Most of the offshore wind industry development so far has been performed in Europe and offshore wind has been for long time deemed as an expensive energy source. The sizable decrease in costs observed in the past few years has allowed the expansion of offshore wind to other markets, where it has been increasingly gaining momentum. Offshore wind represents a promising alternative for the expansion of renewables share in the energy mix worldwide and can potentially play a significant role in the decarbonization as well as bring ample opportunities for local value creation. The expansion of offshore wind to emerging markets, however, usually encounter challenges, one the most relevant is related to the stability of regulatory framework since it provides the clarity and security basis for investors. In this Master Thesis, best practices from Europe are explored looking for lessons learnt that can potentially help accelerate this industry development in new markets. Brazil was selected for further investigation due to its high offshore wind power potential and lack of a clear regulatory framework. A deep dive in the current Brazilian legislative context is provided along with discussions of remaining issues to enable the launch of offshore wind in the country. A case study of an offshore wind farm project in Brazil is presented aiming to illustrate other challenges such as the economic feasibility and competitiveness of offshore wind in the country. Moreover, potential interactions of regulatory, technical, and economic aspects are examined, highlighting the key remaining uncertainties from a project perspective. This Master Thesis reinforces the relevance of the investigation of local context and background when planning strategies to pave the way forward for offshore wind development in new markets. Although international experiences offer useful lessons, dedicated work is required to account for each country specificities and particular needs to ensure a sustainable development of offshore wind power worldwide

Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::7 - Energia Assequible i No Contaminant::7.2 - Per a 2030, augmentar substancialment el percentatge d’energia renovable en el con­junt de fonts d’energia