Powering the unseen battlespace: Integrating offshore wind energy with undersea defence infrastructure

14 Apr 2026
Theatre 1

• Offshore wind installations can enhance naval capabilities by enabling energy-independent forward-operating bases at sea, improving endurance and autonomy of naval assets.

• Subsea energy storage systems powered by offshore wind can support persistent undersea surveillance systems, UUVs, and remote data centers without relying on vulnerable surface vessels or shore-based power.

• The integration of offshore wind and undersea defense creates a new operational paradigm, requiring evolution in maritime domain awareness and naval strategies.

• The study highlights the dual nature of offshore wind farms as potential power hubs for military assets and as vulnerable critical infrastructure, emphasizing the need for innovative security solutions.

Chairperson
Max Edwards
Max Edwards, Team Leader/Principal Scientist Underwater Sensing Maritime Operations - Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl)
Speakers
Aisha AlAsmakh
Aisha AlAsmakh, Senior Maritime Engineer/ PhD Candidate - HBKU