LiveLink Aerospace, in collaboration with Vattenfall and the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, has successfully completed a demonstration of its air defence radar technology at Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm. The event marks a significant milestone in the UK’s efforts to balance clean energy expansion with national defence priorities.
The LiveLink system, designed to enhance radar surveillance capabilities without emitting signals, was tested across multiple turbines on Vattenfall’s commercially operating wind farm. This demonstration represents a critical step toward commercialising the technology for full-scale deployment across offshore wind farms in the UK.
The project is part of a broader initiative supported by the UK’s Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), aimed at mitigating the impact of wind farms on primary surveillance radar and air traffic control systems.
The project was funded via the £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, an initiative introduced as part of the UK’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution. Its aim is to fast-track the development and deployment of low-carbon technologies, systems, and business models across power, buildings, and industry. By reducing the cost of decarbonisation, the programme supports the UK’s transition to a low-carbon economy, fosters the growth of green industries, creates new jobs, and strengthens the UK’s position as a global leader in science and innovation.
By enabling real-time situational awareness and advanced threat identification, LiveLink’s passive radar solution offers a promising pathway to secure, scalable offshore wind development. LiveLink, Vattenfall and ORE Catapult will continue to collaborate on the testing of the technology.
Hugh Riddell, Regional Partnerships Manager at ORE Catapult, said: 'LiveLink initially tested their radar technology at ORE Catapult’s Levenmouth Demonstration Turbine in Fife and learnings gained there meant they could expand and test on turbines at Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm. Our partnership with Vattenfall allows UK businesses, such as LiveLink a unique opportunity to deploy, test and demonstrate their innovative technologies at a real, live working wind farm. Testing in these real world environments is essential to ensure that innovation matures and continuously improved before entering the market and transforming the development of offshore energy.'
Ben Keene, Director of Operations at LiveLink Aerospace, added: 'Working with Vattenfall and ORE Catapult at Aberdeen has allowed us to demonstrate how LiveLink’s Air Intelligence System can unlock the full potential of offshore wind while enhancing the UK’s air defence capability. This milestone proves that innovation born in the UK can strengthen both national security and the transition to net zero. Importantly, the system also offers significant benefits for wind farm operators, providing improved situational awareness, safety, and coordination across turbine arrays, ensuring offshore renewable projects can operate efficiently and securely alongside national infrastructure.'
Matt Jeans, Operations and Consents Manager at Vattenfall, said: 'This demonstration highlights the power of collaboration between industry and government to solve complex challenges. LiveLink’s technology not only supports the UK’s clean energy goals but also ensures that national security remains uncompromised. At Vattenfall we’re proud to provide a live testing site for British SMEs scaling up technology that can solve challenges for the offshore wind industry.'
The technology
When wind turbines are installed out at sea, they create radar clutter which can make it hard for current radar systems to operate effectively. Livelink’s Air Intelligence System is placed on the nacelles of wind turbines and it reduces the radar clutter caused by turbine blades, and eliminates gaps in radar coverage, making it ideal for military and civilian applications. The Air Intelligence System’s passive air defence sensors are highly reliable, scalable, and adaptable to different operational environments.
Background
A video about the project can be found here.
About Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm
Located just off the coast of Aberdeen, the Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm - also known as the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre - is a pioneering site for clean energy and innovation. With 11 powerful turbines generating 96.8 MW, it not only powers up to 80,000 homes annually but also serves as a testbed for cutting-edge technologies in radar, robotics, and environmental monitoring. The site has supported over £5 million in annual economic benefit to the region and invested more than £1 million into community projects through its Unlock Our Future Fund.
About Livelink Aerospace
LiveLink Aerospace is a UK-based technology company specialising in advanced sensing and signal-processing systems that deliver real-time air intelligence for defence, aviation and renewable energy sectors. Its flagship Air Intelligence System enhances situational awareness, strengthens air defence capability, and enables offshore wind farms to operate more safely and efficiently alongside national infrastructure.
LiveLink’s technologies are in operational use with the UK Royal Navy and other partners across the defence and energy sectors, demonstrating the company’s ability to deliver reliable, high-performance solutions for complex environments. By combining innovation in sensing, data fusion and secure communications, LiveLink Aerospace is helping ensure that the UK’s transition to net zero is supported by world-leading surveillance and safety technology.
About ORE Catapult
For more information on the ORE Catapult / Vattenfall collaboration, visit: https://ore.catapult.org.uk/resource-hub/projects/vattenfall-collaboration
ORE Catapult is the UK’s leading innovation centre for offshore renewable energy, established in 2013 by the UK Government as part of a network of Catapults set up by Innovate UK in high growth industries.
Independent and trusted, with a unique combination of world-leading test and demonstration facilities, engineering and research expertise, ORE Catapult convenes the sector, delivering applied research, accelerating technology development, reducing risk and cost and enhancing UK-wide economic growth.
ORE Catapult operates in Glasgow, Blyth, Levenmouth, Aberdeen, the Humber, the East of England, the South West and Wales.
For further information, visit https://ore.catapult.org.uk/
About Vattenfall
Vattenfall is a leading European energy company that works to enable the fossil freedom that drives society forward. Vattenfall is committed to building a future where everyone can choose fossil free ways to move, make and live. They employ approximately 20,000 people, have around 14 million customers and operate mainly in Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and the UK.
Vattenfall has been in the UK for more than 15 years and is a key partner in enabling the UK to reach net zero. Their work in the UK includes low-carbon heating, on and offshore wind energy, solar and battery projects, electricity networks and delivering fossil free electricity to businesses through power purchase agreements.
In the UK, Vattenfall operates 13 battery storage, onshore and offshore wind projects with an installed capacity of 1.1 gigawatts. Each year these projects combined can power 800,000 homes. Vattenfall maintains a strong and growing wind portfolio, with over 3 gigawatts in operation and development.
Source: Vattenfall
