New research from The Alan Turing Institute reveals that the UK's offshore wind farms are at high risk of cyberattacks, with AI potentially playing a crucial role in enhancing their security.
The Alan Turing Institute has published a study highlighting the vulnerability of the UK's offshore wind farms to cyberattacks. The research, conducted jointly by the Institute's Centre for Emerging Technology (CETaS) and Data Centric Engineering (DCE) programme, emphasises the urgent need for improved cybersecurity measures in this critical sector.
Offshore wind farms are particularly susceptible to cyberattacks due to their remote locations, which necessitate extensive digital infrastructure for communication with onshore systems. Many of these facilities also rely on older software and communication systems that were not designed with cybersecurity in mind, further increasing their vulnerability.
The study suggests that AI and intelligent automation, could play a significant role in reinforcing these systems, by helping human operators recognise and predict potential threats. The researchers recommend several actions to enhance cybersecurity, including integrating AI into offshore digital systems, creating organisational emergency response plans, enabling cross-border intelligence sharing, and establishing security response protocols.
Anna Knack, Lead Researcher for CETaS and report author, stressed the importance of protecting offshore wind as it becomes a larger part of the UK's energy supply. Dr. Alexander Babuta, Director of CETaS, warned that the increasing integration of offshore wind into energy supplies amplifies the potential for serious disruption in the event of a cyberattack.
The UK currently leads the world in offshore wind capacity, with these farms accounting for 13% of the country's electricity production. As offshore wind becomes a key component of the UK's critical energy infrastructure, successful cyberattacks could potentially lead to power outages affecting critical services such as hospitals.
As the UK continues to expand its offshore wind production to meet net-zero goals, addressing cybersecurity vulnerabilities becomes increasingly crucial. The integration of AI technologies, coupled with new regulations and international collaboration, could be vital in safeguarding this important source of renewable energy against potential cyber threats.