Offshore wind energy: The next North sea oil

Offshore wind energy, which is considered to be the next North Sea oil, is one of the most significant renewable energy sources attracting increasing attention from researchers and the general public worldwide due to its potential to reduce carbon emissions and increase the security of the world's energy supply. An assessment of appropriate sites for an offshore wind energy system (OWES) in Australia is required to select the best sites for offshore wind farms in Australia. Three types of sub-structures are generally used for offshore wind energy systems, including torpid, gravity-based caissons, and monopiles, which reach up to 4.5 meters in diameter. One of the significant criterions for the selection of sites is wind speed, which is considered as the main resource for offshore wind energy. The biological and environmental aspects of the proposed site also should be investigated to avoid the devastating effects caused by minor disturbances to ecology.