Authentication of Smart Grid Communications using Quantum Key Distribution

Abstract

In this work, the first quantum key-bootstrapped authentication for smart grid communications on an electric utility fiber network is demonstrated. The developed method was prototyped in a software package to manage and utilize quantum keys from a quantum key distribution (QKD) system to authenticate machine-to-machine communications used for supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA). This demonstration showcases the feasibility of using QKD to improve the security of critical infrastructure, including future distributed energy resources (DERs), such as energy storage.