Assessing the sustainability of offshore platform power supply alternatives using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA): A case study of Norway

This study uses multi-criteria decision analysis to address the sustainability assessment of power supply alternatives for offshore platforms on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. In response to Norway's decarbonization goals, three power supply alternatives are assessed across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. The alternatives include the usage of gas turbines, power from shore electrification, and connection to floating offshore wind farms. Stakeholder surveys contributed to the weighting of criteria within the Triple Bottom Line framework, prioritizing factors such as greenhouse gas emissions, investment costs, and working safety. Our analysis identifies power from shore as the most favourable alternative from a sustainability perspective, though it faces limitations due to platform location and potential strain on onshore power systems. While offshore wind farms offer environmental benefits, their high cost and impact on marine ecosystems present challenges for large-scale deployment. Sensitivity analysis confirms the dominance of the power-from-shore alternative but highlights scenarios where gas turbines could become favourable if economic considerations are heavily weighted.