A policy paper from WindEurope, supported by technical analysis from Terma, identifies increasing exposure of offshore wind infrastructure to hybrid threats, including sabotage, surveillance and subsea interference. The report notes a widening gap between the strategic role of offshore wind in Europe’s energy system and the level of protection currently in place. As offshore wind expands, it is increasingly classified as critical infrastructure, yet parts of the sector remain insufficiently secured.
The analysis indicates that the main barrier to improving security is not the availability of technology or cost. Integrating physical security measures at the design stage of new projects is described as relatively limited in cost compared with overall project investment. Typical additional costs are estimated at around €4–12 million, with annual operational costs of approximately €0.5–1.2 million. Retrofitting existing assets is considered technically feasible but more complex and potentially more costly.
The paper highlights regulatory fragmentation across Europe as a key constraint. Security requirements vary between countries, are often introduced late in project development, or are linked to auction frameworks rather than consistent regulation. This can create uncertainty, increase financing risk and lead to delays or redesign.
WindEurope calls for a coordinated European approach, with minimum security requirements defined early and integrated into regulatory and permitting processes. The aim is to provide greater clarity for developers and enable more efficient implementation of security measures as offshore wind capacity continues to grow.
