Martine Chlela
ABSTRACT
The prevalent integration of highly intermittent renewable distributed energy resources (DER) into microgrids necessitates the deployment of a microgrid controller. In the absence of the main electric grid setting the network voltage and frequency, the microgrid power and energy management becomes more challenging, accentuating the need for a centralized microgrid controller that, through communication links, ensures smooth operation of the autonomous system. This extensive reliance on information and communication technologies (ICT) creates potential access points and vulnerabilities that may be exploited by cyber-attackers. This paper first presents a typical microgrid configuration operating in islanded mode; the microgrid elements, primary and secondary control functions for power, energy and load management are defined. The information transferred from the central controller to coordinate and dispatch the DERs is provided along with the deployable communication technologies and protocols. The vulnerabilities arising in such microgrids along with the cyber-attacks exploiting them are described. The impact of these attacks on the microgrid controller functions was shown to be dependent on the characteristics, location and target of the cyber-attack, as well as the microgrid configuration and control. A real-time hardware-in-the loop (HIL) testing platform, which emulates a microgrid featuring renewable DERs, an energy storage system (ESS), a diesel generator and controllable loads was used as the case study in order to demonstrate the impact of various cyber-attacks.
- Katiraei, F., Iravani, R., Hatziargyriou, N., and Dimeas, A., Microgrids management. Power and Energy Magazine, IEEE, 2008. 6(3): p. 54--65.Google Scholar
- Yan, Y., Qian, Y., Sharif, H., and Tipper, D., A survey on smart grid communication infrastructures: Motivations, requirements and challenges. Communications Surveys & Tutorials, IEEE, 2013. 15(1): p. 5--20.Google Scholar
- Liu, J., Xiao, Y., Li, S., Liang, W., and Chen, C. L., Cyber security and privacy issues in smart grids. Communications Surveys & Tutorials, IEEE, 2012. 14(4): p. 981--997.Google Scholar
- Lu, Z., Lu, X., Wang, W., and Wang, C., Review and evaluation of security threats on the communication networks in the smart grid. in Military Communications Conference, 2010-MILCOM 2010. 2010. IEEE.Google ScholarCross Ref
- Kundur, D., Feng, X., Mashayekh, S., Liu, S., Zourntos, T., and Butler-Purry, K. L., Towards modelling the impact of cyber attacks on a smart grid. International Journal of Security and Networks, 2011. 6(1): p. 2--13. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Chen, B., Mashayekh, S., Butler-Purry, K. L., and Kundur, D., Impact of cyber attacks on transient stability of smart grids with voltage support devices. in Power and Energy Society General Meeting (PES), 2013 IEEE. 2013. IEEE.Google ScholarCross Ref
- Katiraei, F. and Iravani, M. R., Power management strategies for a microgrid with multiple distributed generation units. Power Systems, IEEE Transactions on, 2006. 21(4): p. 1821--1831.Google Scholar
- Rocabert, J., Luna, A., Blaabjerg, F., and Rodríguez, P., Control of power converters in AC microgrids. Power Electronics, IEEE Transactions on, 2012. 27(11): p. 4734--4749.Google Scholar
- Margaris, I. D., Papathanassiou, S. A., Hatziargyriou, N. D., Hansen, A. D., and Sørensen, P., Frequency control in autonomous power systems with high wind power penetration. Sustainable Energy, IEEE Transactions on, 2012. 3(2): p. 189--199.Google Scholar
- Kanchev, H., Lu, D., Colas, F., Lazarov, V., and Francois, B., Energy management and operational planning of a microgrid with a PV-based active generator for smart grid applications. Industrial Electronics, IEEE Transactions on, 2011. 58(10): p. 4583--4592.Google Scholar
- Modbus, MODBUS APPLICATION PROTOCOL SPECIFICATION V1.1b3. 2012.Google Scholar
- IEEE Standard for Electric Power Systems Communications-Distributed Network Protocol (DNP3). IEEE Std 1815-2012 (Revision of IEEE Std 1815-2010), 2012: p. 1--821.Google Scholar
- Commission, I. E., IEC/TR 61850 Communication networks and systems for power utility automation -- Part 90-4: Network engineering guidelines. 2013.Google Scholar
- NIST, Guidelines for Smart Grid Cybersecurity, in Smart Grid Cybersecurity Strategy, Architecture, and High-Level Requirements. 2014.Google Scholar
- Dollen, D. V., Report to NIST on the Smart Grid Interoperability Standards Roadmap---Post Comment Period Version. 2009.Google Scholar
- Yan, Y., Qian, Y., Sharif, H., and Tipper, D., A survey on cyber security for smart grid communications. Communications Surveys & Tutorials, IEEE, 2012. 14(4): p. 998--1010.Google Scholar
- NESCOR, Electric Sector Failure Scenarios and Impact Analyses -- Version 3.0. 2015.Google Scholar
- NERC, Automatic Underfrequency Load Shedding. 2012.Google Scholar
Index Terms
- Impact of cyber-attacks on islanded microgrid operation
Recommendations
A cyber-physical security analysis of synchronous-islanded microgrid operation
ICS-CSR '15: Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium for ICS & SCADA Cyber Security ResearchCyber-security research in the field of smart grids is often performed with a focus on either the power and control domain or the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) domain. The characteristics of the power equipment or ICT domain are ...
Cooperative operation and optimal design for islanded microgrid
ISGT '12: Proceedings of the 2012 IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid TechnologiesConsidering the operation constraints of main equipments, this paper addresses an optimization design and coordinated operation control strategy for an islanded microgrid including wind generator, photovoltaic, diesel generator and energy storage (Wind-...
Real-Time Implementation of Islanded Microgrid for Remote Areas
Islanding is a condition in which a microgrid or a portion of power grid, consisting of distributed generation DG sources, converter, and load, gets disconnected from the utility grid. Under this condition the DG sources in a microgrid must switch to a ...
Comments