Cybersecurity of Grid-Connected PV Systems: Analysis and Impacts on the Australian Grid Stability
Date
2024-07-29
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Saudi Digital Library
Abstract
The rapid integration of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems, is transforming the energy
sector, offering significant advancements towards sustainable energy solutions. By 2022, solar energy
has become an important power source, with Australia's capacity reaching approximately 26 gigawatts
(GW) and the global capacity extending to around 1070 GW. However, these systems are vulnerable
to cybersecurity threats, particularly False Data Injection Attacks (FDIA), which can disrupt their
stability and security. Given the importance of PV systems in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and
lowering greenhouse gas emissions, understanding and mitigating these vulnerabilities is crucial.
To address these challenges, this research focused on analyzing the impacts of FDIA, on PV grid-connected systems using the Australian 14 Generators System model which is a close estimation of the
Australian National Electricity Market (NEM). We implemented various attack scenarios to assess
their effects on system stability and performance. My contributions included the development and
simulation of these scenarios using MATLAB, as well as the analysis of the resulting data to identify
the impacts and propose mitigation strategies.
Our findings revealed significant fluctuations in voltage, current, and power under different attack
scenarios. Specifically, regions like Queensland and South Australia exhibited severe instability, with
South Australia experiencing system failures under high attack magnitudes. Conversely, regions such
as Victoria were less affected. These results underscore the critical need for robust cybersecurity
measures to protect PV grid systems and ensure their reliable integration into the energy grid.
Description
By 2022, solar energy had reached significant milestones,
with Australia's capacity at 26 GW and the global capacity at
1070 GW [1]. The integration of photovoltaic (PV) systems
plays a crucial role in this growth, helping to reduce reliance
on fossil fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions [2, 3]. As
the energy sector rapidly evolves with these sustainable
energy solutions [4, 5], PV systems harness solar power and
feed it into the grid, significantly advancing eco-friendly
energy sources. However, this progress brings new
cybersecurity challenges [6]. The digital and interconnected
nature of PV systems makes them susceptible to cyber threats
that could compromise the stability and security of the energy
infrastructure. Understanding these threats is essential, as
cyber-attacks can disrupt operations, lead to economic and
financial losses, compromise sensitive information, and
undermine public confidence in renewable energy. Among
the primary cyber threats, Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks
[7] and FDIA [7, 8] are particularly concerning. DoS attacks
overwhelm the grid network with excessive signals,
disrupting normal operations, while FDIA manipulates data
to create substantial disruptions without physical access to
critical components [9]. The literature on this topic, such as
in the paper [10], provides an in-depth review of
cybersecurity challenges, focusing on smart meter security,
end-user privacy, and the implementation of cryptographic
and blockchain technologies. The authors examine the
operational and economic impacts of cyber-attacks and
evaluate the resilience of various security measures, drawing
on over 135 research articles and case studies. They highlight
the urgent need for advanced computational tools to detect
and mitigate cyber vulnerabilities and call for further research
to develop robust cybersecurity strategies to safeguard smart
grid infrastructures. In another study [11], researchers
explore how cyber-attacks can disrupt voltage regulation in
solar panels within power distribution networks, emphasizing
the overlooked risks to solar inverter control systems. They
developed a system to detect cyber threats by monitoring
voltage anomalies, using a standard IEEE 13-bus test model
to demonstrate the potential dangers of these attacks. This
study underscores the critical need for strong cybersecurity
measures to protect solar power infrastructure. Despite these
comprehensive reviews, there are notable research gaps.
There is a lack of empirical studies validating cybersecurity
threats to grid-connected PV systems under real-world
conditions, especially regarding the impact of cyber-attacks
on system performance and stability, including PV inverters
within the framework of the Australian grid. Understanding
these real-time implications is crucial for developing
effective mitigation strategies. Furthermore, a detailed
examination of potential points of exploitation across the
system's architecture, from PV inverters to communication
protocols and grid interconnections, is needed. This study
employs advanced MATLAB simulations to analyze the
cybersecurity of grid-connected PV systems within the
Australian grid [12, 13]. It identifies and categorizes different
cyber-attack scenarios, enhancing understanding of regional
threats, and evaluating their impact on system stability and
reliability.
Keywords
Australian power grid stability, cybersecurity, false data injection attacks, PV systems, solar energy.