Offshore wind farms can enhance maritime security, report says

Offshore wind farms can bolster maritime security, according to a new analysis from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington. Although wind infrastructure has grown in recent years, the report highlights that less progress has been made in looking at how it can benefit national security. The CSIS suggests that if energy and government entities collaborate to equip turbines with surveillance systems, sensors, and data tracking tools, this could enhance "maritime domain awareness".

This strategy would turn energy infrastructure into a force multiplier, strengthening surveillance and warning in a more contested maritime environment. The analysis notes that subsea cables, which transmit about 95% of global internet traffic, are increasingly vulnerable to disruption. In a recent incident in the Red Sea, undersea cables were damaged, potentially affecting connectivity for users in the Middle East, India, and Pakistan.

However, the incident was likely an accident. The report warns that drones, autonomous naval tools, and unmanned underwater vehicles are also increasing vulnerability to maritime security threats. These threats now come not only from state actors but also from criminal gangs and drug traffickers. CSIS energy security fellow Allegra Dawes says that if private offshore wind farm developers and governments work together to enhance surveillance capabilities on these turbines, it could significantly improve national security.