Background: In the coming years, the increase of automation in electricity distribution grids, controlled by ICT, will bring major consequences to the cyber security posture of the grids. Automation plays an especially important role in load balancing of renewable energy where distributed generation is balanced to load in a way that the grid stability is ensured. Threats to the load balancing and the smart grid in general arise from the activities of misbehaving or rouge actors in combination with poor design, implementation, or configuration of the system that makes it vulnerable. It is urgent to conduct an in-depth analysis about the feasibility and imminency of these potential threats ahead of a cyber catastrophy. This paper presents a cyber security evaluation of the ICT part of the smart grid with a focus on load balancing of renewable energy. Method: The work builds on a load balancing centered smart grid reference architecture model that is designed as part of the evaluation with the help of SCADA system and smart grid experts. The smart grid load balancing architecture represented by the model is then analyzed using a threat modelling approach that is encapsulated in a tool called securiCAD. Countermeasures are introduced in the model to measure how much each improve the cyber security of the smart grid.
In February 1998 ABB Automation was awarded a Distribution Management System (DMS) from CLP Power for the supervision and control of the 11 kV distribution networks of Kowloon and the New Territories in Hong Kong. This DMS system was part of a bigger CLP Power project for Distribution Automation (DA) with the expressed goal to significantly reduce the average outage time on the medium voltage network. This goal was to be achieved through an increased use of telemetered information and remote control facilities but also with the use of Advanced Network Applications dedicated for the medium voltage networks.The Advanced Network Applications have been implemented based on a new, patented method for the dynamic topology engine. Distribution Operation Analysis like Load Calibration and Load Flows executing both in real-time and studies are included. The Fault Localisation, Isolation and Supply Restoration (FLISR) application identifies errors via information from intelligent protection devices and fault indicators and will isolate the errors and propose pre-validated switching operations to restore supply eficiently.The execution of the DMS project has been done in close co-operation between CLP Power and ABB Automation. Although the supplier and the customer are situated on two continents (Europe and Asia), the work has proceeded in accordance to the original time schedule that stipulates a Taking Over of the final system in October 2000. A key factor to the success of the project has been two dedicated, strong and experienced project teams from both the supplier and customer working for one common goal.
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