Critical Energy Infrastructure Research Articles

Transforming Cybersecurity into Critical Energy Infrastructure: A Study on the Effectiveness of Artificial Intelligence

This work explores the integration and effectiveness of artificial intelligence in improving the security of critical energy infrastructure, highlighting its potential to transform cybersecurity practices in the sector. The ability of artificial intelligence solutions to detect and respond to cyber threats in critical energy infrastructure environments was evaluated through a methodology that combines empirical analysis and artificial intelligence modeling. The results indicate a significant increase in the threat detection rate, reaching 98%, and a reduction in incident response time by more than 70%, demonstrating the effectiveness of artificial intelligence in identifying and mitigating cyber risks quickly and accurately. In addition, implementing machine learning algorithms has allowed for the early prediction of failures and cyber-attacks, significantly improving proactivity and security management in energy infrastructure. This study highlights the importance of integrating artificial intelligence into energy infrastructure security strategies, proposing a paradigmatic change in cybersecurity management that increases operational efficiency and strengthens the resilience and sustainability of the energy sector against cyber threats.

Investment firms’ carbon targets and their alignment with power and utility assets - A portfolio view to energy transition strategy

The world leaders both in public and private sectors have agreed to set a 1.5 °Celsius ceiling to the global warming and the greenhouse emissions. The commitments to these goals are both voluntary and binding and are designed to lead mid-century anthropogenic emissions to balance to zero. The carbon zero targets can open us a solution and a pathway for change but also, they can be misleading and ambiguous. An important emissions source related to carbon neutrality is carbon-intensive power and utilities. Over 80 % of these critical energy infrastructures are private sector owned and governed by the investment firms and capital markets. In this article we study the connection between the investment firm's carbon targets and their power and utilities company portfolios. The analysis clearly indicates a disconnect between the owner and the assets. Also, investment firm's own operations related carbon targets are highlighted with less emphasis and transparency on total portfolio or asset-based carbon strategies. The high impact activities and alignment with the indicated carbon zero strategies were not transparent and the various indicators showed compelling evidence of lack of positive progress and reaching the targets committed.

Design issues in “a secure and efficient key agreement framework for critical energy infrastructure using mobile device”

Design issues in “a secure and efficient key agreement framework for critical energy infrastructure using mobile device”

Climate-Proofing Critical Energy Infrastructure: Smart Grids, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning for Power System Resilience against Extreme Weather Events

Climate-Proofing Critical Energy Infrastructure: Smart Grids, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning for Power System Resilience against Extreme Weather Events

Time-Dependent Unavailability Exploration of Interconnected Urban Power Grid and Communication Network

This paper presents a time-dependent reliability analysis created for a critical energy infrastructure use case, which consists of an interconnected urban power grid and a communication network. By utilizing expert knowledge from the energy and communication sectors and integrating the renewal theory of multi-component systems, a representative reliability model of this interconnected energy infrastructure, based on real network located in the Czech Republic, is established. This model assumes reparable and non-reparable components and captures the topology of the interconnected infrastructure and reliability characteristics of both the power grid and the communication network. Moreover, a time-dependent reliability assessment of the interconnected system is provided. One of the significant outputs of this research is the identification of the critical components of the interconnected network and their interdependencies by the directed acyclic graph. Numerical results indicate that the original design has an unacceptable large unavailability. Thus, to improve the reliability of the interconnected system, a slightly modified design, in which only a limited number of components in the system are modified to keep the additional costs of the improved design limited, is proposed. Consequently, numerical results indicate reducing the unavailability of the improved interconnected system in comparison with the initial reliability design. The proposed unavailability exploration strategy is general and can bring a valuable reliability improvement in the power and communication sectors.

Temperature Sensor Integration into the Node-RED Platform for Transformer Monitoring

Transformers must be continuously monitored to guarantee dependable and effective performance. The combination of Internet of Things (IoT) technology and sophisticated data processing systems opens up new possibilities for improved transformer monitoring in this context. To enable real-time monitoring of transformer conditions, this study focuses on the integration of IoT temperature sensors into the Node-RED platform. The suggested method gathers temperature information from several locations inside the scale laboratory transformer using IoT temperature sensors. The Node-RED platform receives the collected data and processes, analyzes, and visualizes it in real time. Comprehensive monitoring is made possible by the platform, allowing operators to quickly identify any unusual temperature swings or potential problems inside the transformer. For older transformers built with normal Kraft paper, the rated hot spot temperature is either 90°C according to IEEE or 97°C according to IEC. The Node-RED platform’s incorporation of IoT devices not only provides real-time monitoring capabilities but also offers the flexibility to implement predictive maintenance strategies. By harnessing the power of data analytics and visualization, operators can make informed decisions to optimize transformer performance, extend its lifespan, and minimize downtime. The results of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of the IoT temperature sensor integration into the Node-RED platform for laboratory transformer monitoring. Based on the measurement winding temperature at the transformer has reached 90 ˚C at full load, and then the system starts to activate the blower to cool the transformer. The approach contributes to the advancement of transformer management practices, ensuring the reliability and efficiency of critical energy infrastructure.

Evolution of rock heterogeneity under coupled stress-temperature gradient loading and implications for underground cryogenic storage

Underground cryogenic storage can be a critical energy infrastructure of urban cities for the survival and recovery of energy supply from severe natural disasters and extreme weather events. The efficiency of underground cryogenic storage is essential to ensure the balance between energy input and output and dependent highly on the thermo-mechanical responses of containment materials. This study investigated the evolution of strain field heterogeneity of Chanceaux limestone under the defect (e.g., circular hole) and stress-temperature gradient effects using a temperature gradient test system. We performed 4 suites of temperature gradient experiments, including the thermo-loading and thermo-unloading experiments on intact and flawed specimens, respectively, under different combinations of axial stress (0.75–3.50 MPa) and temperature gradient (56–298 °C/m), taking underground liquefied natural gas storage as the background. We computed the axial strain in the region of interest for each experiment based on the digital image correlation analysis and derived the coefficients of strain field heterogeneity in the mechanical loading and unloading sequences. The results show that the coefficient of strain field heterogeneity can be amplified with the presence of pre-existing defects, a lower axial stress, and a higher temperature gradient. Our findings highlight that understanding the evolution of rock heterogeneity is important to ensure the integrity of containment materials and the efficiency of underground cryogenic storage.

The Importance of Resistance in the Context of Critical Infrastructure Resilience: An Extension of the CIERA Method

Technical sectors compose an inseparable and elementary part of a complex critical infrastructure (CI) system. Their provided services are essential to the functioning of all of the dependent sectors of CI on which society and states depend, especially in areas experiencing high levels of urbanisation. The initial point for effective CI elements’ protection is the permanent assessment and strengthening of their capacity for resilience to the negative effects of internal and external threats. The current perceptions of resilience focus primarily on repressive components responsive to incidents (i.e., robustness, recoverability, and adaptability), while minimal attention is paid to the preventative components. The article’s contribution to this literature gap is its definition of resistance, which can be considered as a CI element’s ability to prevent the occurrence of incidents. To this goal, the current study defines (1) the individual factors (variables and parameters) determining CI resistance and (2) the methodological procedure for infrastructure element resistance assessment in order to identify the weak points throughout a complex CI system and subsequently strengthen them. Moreover, a practical example of resistance assessment for a selected critical energy infrastructure element is presented. The main outcome of this article is the definition of the primary steps for the expansion of the CIERA method, via the enhancement of CI components’ resilience capacity in the prevention phase.

Retracted: An Efficient Multifeature Model for Improving the Performance of Critical Energy Infrastructure

Retracted: An Efficient Multifeature Model for Improving the Performance of Critical Energy Infrastructure

A standards-based approach to enhancing interoperability of low-cost industrial IoT flood sensors for transportation system resilience

Transportation infrastructure assets are particularly vulnerable to natural hazards, which are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change and extreme weather conditions. Floods and flash floods are among the deadliest natural hazards, accounting for 50% of vehicle-related fatalities. This underscores the need for timely transportation flood detection systems adoption. However, current flood detection technologies are inadequate in terms of coverage, speed, geographical specificity, and interoperability, making it difficult for emergency managers to respond effectively to flood events. To address this issue, we propose a high-resolution network of low-cost Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) sensing devices deployed at flood-prone transportation assets. These sensors collect location-specific data, which is then published in standardized formats, interfaces, and protocols, enabling other systems to generate flood forecasts, nowcasts, and warnings. A framework for Incident Management Systems (IMS) was also discussed to highlight the need for system interoperability during disaster management operations. Our solution employs standards-based interoperability, using the OIIE™ OpenO&M ecosystem architecture, to enable seamless interaction between interdependent systems and manages the risk to critical transportation infrastructure. The technology was tested at a microscale level to evaluate its performance. The model architecture supports scalable systems of systems interoperability for standardized use cases and common asset classes used in transportation, energy, facilities, and other critical infrastructure.

Cybersecurity in the Smart Grid: Vulnerabilities, Threats, and Countermeasures

This research paper comprehensively explores and investigated the Smart Grid's architectural vulnerabilities, analyzing evolving threat landscapes, and proposing strategic defense measures. It uncovers vulnerabilities arising from legacy system integration, communication network weaknesses, and unauthorized access risks, creating potential entry points for cyber adversaries targeting critical energy infrastructure. Addressing emergent threats like advanced persistent threats, ransomware, and supply chain compromises, the study evaluates an array of countermeasures, including encryption, authentication protocols, intrusion detection systems, anomaly detection algorithms, patching, and incident response plans. Emphasizing the importance of collaborative information sharing, the research advocates for a collective approach involving energy providers, cybersecurity experts, regulatory bodies, and governmental agencies. Such cooperation fortifies the Smart Grid's overall cybersecurity stance and prepares societies to counter the persistent tide of cyber threats as the Smart Grid continues shaping the future of energy distribution, safeguarding vital infrastructure, ensuring uninterrupted energy services, and enhancing societal resilience

Drones are Endangering Energy Critical Infrastructure, and How We Can Deal with This

Drones are becoming a greater threat to modern electrical grids with the capability to cause expensive and time-consuming damage repairs to substations and transmission lines. Consumer drones have the potential to cause harm at a low cost, and finding methods to counter these threats is becoming more crucial to keep grids secure. In 2021, there was an attempted attack on a substation with a consumer drone which highlighted the need for research in this area. Previously, there has been a large focus on counter drones around places such as airports; however, more focus is warranted to analyze drone impact on the grid infrastructure. Methods to counter drones’ harmful impacts vary from physical methods to using electromagnetic waves. This article looks to identify and propose potential applications for existing technologies, as well as developing anti-drone technologies. These methods have not been adopted yet; thus, there is a great opportunity to utilize these existing technologies to defend the grid. The methods investigated were surveillance cameras, patrolling drones, nets, signal jammers, and energy weapons. The existing technology is currently lacking in the area of drone defense and can be improved with existing studies. However, there is a need to identify those methods and find ways to apply them to the power grid. Different defending technologies vary concerning their potential implementation. This paper also identifies and categorizes different results these methods produce to counter drones and their associated costs.

Is critical infrastructure safe from wildfires? A case study of wildland-industrial and -urban interface areas in South Korea

Global climate change, global warming, and unplanned urbanization have resulted in industrial facilities and livelihoods encroaching on wildlands. Wildfire risks concerns about natural hazards triggering technological accidents (Natech) caused by wildfires in wildland-industrial and -urban interface areas are globally increasing. As wildfires that could trigger Natech accidents occur infrequently but often with unpredicted and uncontrollable consequences, critical infrastructure and industrial facilities should prepare for the potential catastrophic impact of wildfires beforehand. This paper describes a case study of wildfire-threatened critical energy infrastructure located in wildland-industrial interface (WII) and wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas in South Korea. The energy infrastructure avoided a serious Natech accident through intensive risk and emergency management. Although there was no Natech disaster or dreadful damage to the energy facility, this threat to the energy infrastructure is a reminder to prepare for future Natech disasters in WII and WUI areas that could result in unmanageable consequences. This study highlights the need for intensive and integrated wildfire-specific Natech risk management, considering critical infrastructure and industrial facilities in WII and WUI areas, that should include all stakeholders with local residents and enhance Natech resilience.

Techno-Economic Analysis of Waste-to-Suburban Cooking Energy Critical Infrastructure Development in Southwestern Nigeria

This study examined the techno-economic specifications for a Waste-to-Suburban Cooking Energy<strong> </strong>critical infrastructure project in Southwestern Nigeria. Technological and project economic data for the W2E project were obtained from strategic sources and energy project foresight/analysis framework used. The results showed residential upgraded biogas-for-cooking demand of approximately 10,243 m<sup>3</sup>/month, and municipal solid waste (MSW) input of approximately 80 tonnes/month. The planned biogas plant had estimated costs of US $120,000, a throughput of almost 15,364 m<sup>3</sup>/month and required 5 acres of land for construction. Project economic viability indicator estimates were: Initial Investment – US $256,500, annual profits – US $40,000, Net Present Value (NPV) – US $142,000, maximum payback period – 7 years, and annual Return-on-Investment (ROI) – 16%. Socio-economic benefits per month included the constant supply of cheap cooking fuel, comparative cooking energy cost savings (biogas-to-LPG usage) of US $3,810, and the elimination of almost 80 tonnes of MSW from the environment. The study concluded that the Waste-2-Biogas critical infrastructure project was technically, environmentally, and socio-economically viable, and was suitable for deployment across suburban Southwestern Nigeria.

Sustainable Development for Oil and Gas Infrastructure from Risk, Reliability, and Resilience Perspectives

The oil and gas (O&G) sector is a critical energy infrastructure to a Nation’s welfare. As developed as the O&G industry may seem, its aging infrastructure gradually shows numerous challenges to keep up with the growing energy demand, increasing operation costs, and environmental concerns. A robust O&G infrastructure that is risk-free, reliable, and resilient towards expected or unexpected threats can offer an uninterrupted supply of O&G to downstream stakeholders, competitive prices to customers, and better environmental footprints. With the shift towards renewable energy, the notion of sustainable development should be firmly embedded in O&G infrastructure and operations to facilitate the smooth transition towards future renewable energy generation. This paper offers a comprehensive and innovative approach to achieving sustainable development for O&G infrastructure by examining it from a holistic risk, reliability, and resilience (3Rs) perspective. The role of each individual concept and their collective influence on sustainable development in the O&G industry will be thoroughly discussed. Moreover, this paper will highlight the significant impact of the holistic 3Rs approach on sustainable development and propose future research directions. Given the complexity of O&G infrastructure, it is crucial to incorporate sustainable development practices into every dimension of the O&G infrastructure, iteratively and continuously, to achieve the ultimate goal of long-term sustainability. This paper makes a significant contribution to the field by providing valuable insights and recommendations for achieving sustainable development in the O&G industry.

Critical Energy Infrastructure and Health: How Loss of Power May Kill.

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Ukraine

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to have a devastating economic and social impact. Active combat is concentrated in eastern and southern Ukraine, while continued attacks on critical energy infrastructure had a severe social toll over the winter. Civilian casualties continue to rise, and over a third of the population has been displaced. The war has had a profound impact on the economy: activity contracted by 30 percent in 2022, a large swathe of the country’s capital stock has been destroyed, and poverty is on the rise. The authorities have nevertheless managed to maintain overall macroeconomic and financial stability, thanks to skillful policymaking and substantial external support.

Design of Next-Generation Cyber-Physical Energy Management Systems: Monitoring to Mitigation

There is a crucial need to enhance the reliability and resilience of our nation’s critical energy infrastructure. Electric power systems are cyber-physical critical infrastructure with distinct, interacting networks comprising electrical, communications, and interdependency layers. Resilience requires modeling and monitoring all layers for prevention, early detection, and proactive threat assessment. This paper presents the research and design of a novel energy management system (EMS) called Cyber-Physical Resilient Energy Systems (CYPRES) to accomplish this goal. The CYPRES EMS architecture and methods are all cyber-physical to cohesively model and analyze the power system as a cyber-physical system (CPS). Results are illustrated for this proof-of-concept solution utilizing a 2000-bus cyber-physical synthetic electric grid.

СИСТЕМИ АВТОНОМНОГО ТЕПЛОЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ БУДІВЕЛЬ

The critical energy infrastructure plays an important role in ensuring the energy security of the state, creating conditions for life of population and development of national economy. The work examines the problems of developing and designing an autonomous energy supply system as a component of critical energy infrastructure, it is necessary to analyze the functions of individual components of the system and the criteria that determine the energy efficiency of the system as a whole.A sufficient number of scientific papers are devoted to the analysis of research and publications on the functional analysis of distributed energy systems, in particular, the formation of the optimal structure of the local electric power system based on the assessment of the degree of proximity of the location of objects with the use of cluster analysis for modeling systems based on the Microgrid concept is considered.The purpose of the article is to develop the concept of an autonomous local energy supply system as a component of critical energy infrastructure in order to increase the level of energy security of the country.The transformation of the existing system of centralized heat supply (or its addition) is possible with the use of combined production of heat and electricity in autonomous local energy supply systems using cogeneration technology on modern high-efficiency equipment and the widespread use of renewable energy sources (RES) in accordance with the requirements of the IV energy transition. This approach is harmonized with project development of the EU – Europen Technology Platform SmartGrid energy supply platform based on distributed generation and Smart technologies.For the analysis of schematic solutions of the structure of the autonomous local energy supply system, the heuristic analysis technique was applied, which made it possible to optimize the management of energy resource generation processes, in the form of components: technical means (TK), informational (IS) and mathematical (MZ) support.The paper provides a theoretical analysis of an autonomous heat supply system based on the principles of process mod-eling when using an automated control and energy monitoring system with self-learning elements.

Critical energy infrastructure and the evolution of cybersecurity

Cybersecurity has risen to a position of great significance in global affairs. This is intensifying in many sectors, including energy. Protection of the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) from cyberattack is an increasing priority in developed and developing economies alike. Provided here is an analysis of the cyber threat to CEI, especially in times of crisis or conflict; the energy sector’s evolving response to that threat; and prescriptions for socio-technical approaches to it.