Airborne Wind Energy Systems (AWES) are an emerging technology for renewable energy generation, offering several advantages over conventional wind turbines. These include access to stronger, more consistent winds at higher altitudes and a lightweight, compact design that reduces structural complexity and cost. This PhD research focuses on the development of floating offshore AWES. The main objective is to build a dynamic model that captures the coupled behaviour of the airborne system and the floating platform, with a particular focus on the impact of platform motion on system performance.

After identifying the interactions between wind, wave motion, platform dynamics, and energy production, this study adapts existing AWES flight control techniques to ensure stable operation and mitigate platform resonances. Additionally, a scale prototype of the floating AWES is developed and tested in an indoor wave basin. Experimental data support model validation and refinement, as well as provide further insight into AWES performance under time-varying offshore conditions. Finally, estimates of annual energy production and levelized cost of energy (LCOE) are investigated as the final step to assess the potential of offshore AWES.