Adopting a Quadruple Bottom Line approach for assessing offshore energy hubs: A proposal based on industrial insights and expert reviews

This study investigates the critical parameters necessary for evaluating large-scale renewable offshore energy hubs, based on insights from industry experts. Using a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis methodology, the experts emphasized that, in their view, technical and economic parameters rank higher than environmental and societal considerations when evaluating large-scale renewable offshore projects, including green hydrogen production. Environmental and societal parameters should not be neglected, but they ought to be evaluated outside this assessment framework. This could refer to the environmental impact assessment already in use. These findings provide a foundation for evolving the traditional Triple Bottom Line theory into a Quadruple Bottom Line approach by incorporating technical parameters alongside economic, social, and environmental factors, while addressing the specific challenges of offshore energy hubs. Among all the parameters ranked across the four domains, the top 15 were exclusively techno-economic, with technical and economic scores averaging 4.5 and 4.3 out of 5, respectively. In contrast, societal and environmental scores averaged below 3.0. To ensure the successful deployment of offshore energy hubs, a stepwise approach is recommended to manage complexity, reduce risks, and support scalable solutions. This approach aims to align the needed industrial parameters with the demands of the energy transition. • Early OEH deployment trades off speed for scale; mid-2030s build-out offers scale but delays impact. • A Multi-Criteria Decision framework is needed to assess offshore energy hubs. • Experts suggest adding a technical domain to the Triple Bottom Line for complex, large-scale renewable energy projects. • The proposed assessment should emphasize technical and economic factors, according to expert interviews. • An incremental approach is proposed to manage complexity and scale in offshore hubs with green hydrogen integration.