Development of a Real-time Detection Technique of Cyber Attacks against Power Systems with PVs

Under the JST CREST Program, Associate Professor Hideaki Ishii of Tokyo Institute of Technology has developed a novel real-time detection technique of cyber attacks in the form of measurement falsifications against distribution power systems where a large number of photovoltaic (PV) systems are connected.

The introduction of distributed generation such as PV and wind power generation systems is known to complicate voltage behaviors in distribution systems. This issue has motivated recent research towards more stable energy supply for the future grid. Here, the focus is on advanced voltage regulation via a centralized scheme, where at the substations, the voltage levels are controlled by collecting voltage measurements from sensors installed at switches throughout the distribution systems. Such schemes however require more communication, which may create vulnerability to cyber attacks. Cyber security has become a critical issue since attacks can affect the quality of power by frequency and voltage fluctuations as well as the trading of power generated by PVs and so on.

The group led by Prof. Ishii has developed an algorithm for detecting attacks and faults by analyzing the complicated voltage behavior in distribution systems. Their approach is to model the normal behaviors of voltage and to alarm whenever unusual changes are detected. To confirm the effectiveness of the proposed detection method, the group conducted detailed simulation studies based on real data of residential areas with PV generation obtained at an experimental site in Japan. This research has provided novel results on detection of cyber attacks within distribution systems. Future research is directed towards applying the detection method to more realistic attack scenarios in large-scale power systems.

Collaborators for this research includes Professor Yasuhiro Hayashi of Waseda University and Dr Takashi Onoda of Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), Japan.

The outcome of this research will become publically available throuth the online version of the IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid published by the Institute of Electric and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) on May 26, 2015 (US Eastern Time).