A systematic literature review is conducted to explore the components and barriers of offshore energy system integration in the North Sea. The study identifies key infrastructure components such as alternative cable connections, energy storage systems (ESS), and power-to-hydrogen applications. It also highlights the challenges in their development from technical, economic, legal, spatial planning, and governance perspectives. The review emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to address the complex interplay of these factors in the development of an integrated offshore energy system. The findings indicate that current literature lacks a holistic perspective on offshore energy systems, with techno-economic assessments of individual components prevailing over integrated approaches. Barriers include permitting issues, legal frameworks, safety regulations, and spatial competition. The study underscores the importance of aligning various disciplines to support the development of an integrated offshore energy system, with timely policy and legal developments being crucial for incentivizing technical innovation and ensuring economic feasibility. The review also discusses the potential of offshore wind energy as a key component of the future energy system, along with the role of hydrogen and other renewable technologies. The study concludes that a comprehensive approach is necessary to overcome the challenges and realize the potential of offshore energy system integration in the North Sea.A systematic literature review is conducted to explore the components and barriers of offshore energy system integration in the North Sea. The study identifies key infrastructure components such as alternative cable connections, energy storage systems (ESS), and power-to-hydrogen applications. It also highlights the challenges in their development from technical, economic, legal, spatial planning, and governance perspectives. The review emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to address the complex interplay of these factors in the development of an integrated offshore energy system. The findings indicate that current literature lacks a holistic perspective on offshore energy systems, with techno-economic assessments of individual components prevailing over integrated approaches. Barriers include permitting issues, legal frameworks, safety regulations, and spatial competition. The study underscores the importance of aligning various disciplines to support the development of an integrated offshore energy system, with timely policy and legal developments being crucial for incentivizing technical innovation and ensuring economic feasibility. The review also discusses the potential of offshore wind energy as a key component of the future energy system, along with the role of hydrogen and other renewable technologies. The study concludes that a comprehensive approach is necessary to overcome the challenges and realize the potential of offshore energy system integration in the North Sea.