Abstract
This paper provides a strategic solution for enhancing the cybersecurity of power distribution system operations when information and operation technologies converge in active distribution network (ADN). The paper first investigates the significance of Internet of Things (IoT) in enabling fine-grained observability and controllability of ADN in networked microgrids. Given severe cybersecurity vulnerabilities embedded in conventionally centralized energy management schemes, the paper then proposes a cyber-secure decentralized energy management framework that applies a distributed decision-making intelligence to networked microgrids while securing their individual mandates for optimal operation. In particular, the proposed framework takes advantage of software-defined networking technologies that can secure communications among IoT devices in individual microgrids, and exploits potentials for introducing blockchain technologies that can preserve the integrity of communications among networked microgrids in ADN. Furthermore, the paper presents the details of application scenarios where the proposed framework is employed to secure peer-to-peer transactive energy management based on a set of interoperable blockchains. It is finally concluded that the proposed framework can play a significant role in enhancing the efficiency, reliability, resilience, and sustainability of electricity services in ADN.
Highlights
Distributed energy resources (DERs), which have progressively taken the place of centralized and large-scale generating facilities, have become active participants in the provision of electricity services for managing the state of electric power systems at steady state and extreme conditions
To address potential cybersecurity issues in Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled active distribution network (ADN), this paper proposes a secure, scalable, and efficient energy management framework, which coordinates the application of prevalent cybersecurity technologies such as software-defined networking and blockchain to ensure the integrity and privacy of decentralized decision-making processes
Modern power distribution systems are undergoing a paradigm shift to ADN, which is driven by a collection of dynamic forces including the ever-growing penetration of DERs as well as an extensive quest for offering sustainable and resilient electricity services
Summary
Distributed energy resources (DERs), which have progressively taken the place of centralized and large-scale generating facilities, have become active participants in the provision of electricity services for managing the state of electric power systems at steady state and extreme conditions. A widespread adoption of DERs would drive and flourish distributed and controllable power systems (e.g., microgrids, nanogrids) in the near future and challenge the existing utility-based regulation models and policies [2,3,4]. A multitude of state-of-the-art information technologies are adopted to meet the technical challenges resulting from the widespread implementation of DERs across the legacy power distribution infrastructure, among which Internet of Things (IoT) plays the key part in filling the gap between control and monitoring applications and physical processes. To address potential cybersecurity issues in IoT-enabled ADN, this paper proposes a secure, scalable, and efficient energy management framework, which coordinates the application of prevalent cybersecurity technologies such as software-defined networking and blockchain to ensure the integrity and privacy of decentralized decision-making processes.
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