A multi-criteria port suitability assessment for developments in the offshore wind industry

This paper investigates the logistics capabilities of offshore wind ports, namely physical characteristics, connectivity and layout of the port, for supporting the installation and operation and maintenance phases of offshore wind projects. The relative significance of these criteria is determined using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The AHP methodology is then applied in a case study as a decision-making tool to enable decision makers to assess the suitability of a number of ports for an offshore wind farm located off the North Sea coast of the United Kingdom (UK).