Offshore wind farms can enhance maritime security, report says

Offshore wind farms can bolster maritime security by fostering collaboration and utilizing advanced surveillance technology, according to a recent report from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C. Despite the increasing prevalence of offshore wind infrastructure in recent years, the CSIS report highlights a lack of focus on how these structures could contribute to national security.

By incorporating dual-use capabilities into the planning stages, the United States can leverage energy infrastructure to bolster surveillance and warning systems in a region marked by growing maritime tensions. The report emphasizes the importance of securing subsea cables, which transmit approximately 95% of global internet traffic and are particularly susceptible to disruption.

In May, such cables were targeted in the Red Sea, resulting in connectivity issues for users in the Middle East, India, and Pakistan. Although the incident is believed to have been accidental, it underscores the vulnerability of subsea infrastructure. The proliferation of aerial drones, autonomous naval tools, and unmanned underwater vehicles exacerbates these security concerns.

Moreover, drone threats now originate not only from state actors but also from criminal organizations and drug traffickers. The CSIS report suggests that private offshore wind farm developers and governments could collaborate to equip turbines with surveillance, sensors, and data tracking tools, resulting in "enhanced maritime domain awareness."

Allegra Dawes, an energy security fellow at CSIS, notes that increased cooperation could serve as a "force multiplier" for national security, particularly for the U.S. Doug Wolfe, chief technology officer for Mighty Waves Energy, adds that artificial intelligence can further strengthen security by automating maritime security workflows and effectively detecting and characterizing undersea activities.