Offshore wind farms can enhance maritime security, report says
Offshore wind farms can enhance maritime security through greater co-operation and surveillance technology, a new analysis says. The report from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington said that although offshore wind infrastructure has become more prevalent in recent decades, too little progress has been made in looking at how it could benefit national security.…
Offshore wind farms can bolster maritime security through enhanced cooperation and advanced surveillance technology, according to a new analysis by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington. The report highlights that while offshore wind infrastructure has expanded in recent years, insufficient attention has been given to its potential security benefits.
The CSIS report suggests that by incorporating dual-use capabilities during the planning stages, the United States can transform energy infrastructure into a strategic asset for national security, bolstering surveillance and early warning systems in a highly contested maritime environment.
The report points out that subsea cables, responsible for transmitting approximately 95 percent of global internet traffic, are particularly susceptible to disruptions. A recent incident in the Red Sea, where undersea internet cables were damaged, temporarily disrupted connectivity for users in the Middle East, India, and Pakistan. Although the cables were eventually repaired, the event underscored the vulnerability of subsea infrastructure.
The CSIS analysis also underscores the growing threat posed by aerial drones, autonomous naval equipment, and unmanned underwater vehicles, which have expanded the vulnerabilities of maritime security and subsea infrastructure. Alarmingly, drone threats are now emanating from non-state actors, including criminal gangs and drug traffickers.
The report concludes that if private offshore wind farm developers and governments collaborate on integrating surveillance systems, sensors, and data tracking tools into wind turbines, it could lead to "enhanced maritime domain awareness."
Allegra Dawes, an energy security fellow at CSIS, emphasized the potential for greater cooperation to create a "force multiplier" effect, particularly for the United States. "This analysis provides valuable insights into the technologies that can bolster national security and strengthen the energy infrastructure backbone," she explained.
Doug Wolfe, chief technology officer for Mighty Waves Energy, suggested that artificial intelligence could be employed alongside enhanced surveillance systems to further fortify security. AI could automate various maritime security processes and enable rapid identification and characterization of marine life and underwater activity.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
