University of Plymouth

11/10/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/10/2025 08:07

World-first facility enhances the UK’s energy and cyber resilience

A corner of the University of Plymouth campus overlooking one of the city's busiest road systems has been transformed into a cutting-edge facility that will enhance the nation's energy security.
The Cyber-Resilience of Offshore Wind Networks (CROWN) Lab is the first dedicated offshore wind cyber security research, test and development facility anywhere in the world.
Housed within the University's Marine Building , it is home to two desk top training wind turbines, a replica wind turbine control system and a number of computer servers that create - in effect - a virtual offshore wind facility in the heart of the city centre.
It will support investigations into the cyber vulnerability of offshore wind technology and control networks, enabling researchers to replicate hacking attempts and identify defences that need to be deployed.
It will then be used to test new cyber security technologies and develop resilience procedures, security measures, tools and training that can be employed by those working in the industry.
The lab also has two remote operation stations, and will in future host marine autonomous systems to test the security of technologies that will be used to monitor offshore energy installations.
The ambition is for its impact to extend far beyond the energy sector, with its work directly linked to Plymouth's recent designation as the National Centre for Marine Autonomy and its position as one of five places to benefit from a UK Government Defence Growth Deal.
The CROWN Lab - a flagship facility of the University's Centre for Marine Autonomy, Maritime Cyber Security and Technology (CMAST) - was opened on Friday 7 November by Luke Pollard MP, the MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport.
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