Researchers securing solar technologies from cyberattack

• New research from the University of Georgia recommends a novel method to guarding one feasible target of a cyberattack-- the country's solar farms. In a research released in IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, a group in UGA's College of Engineering presented a sensing unit system that keeps an eye on an essential electrical component of solar farms for indications of cyber-intrusion in real time.

" A growing problem is that hackers might exploit the converters that link solar farms with the power grid," stated WenZhan Song, the Georgia Power Mickey A. Brown Teacher in Engineering as well as the study's lead private investigator. "In contemporary grid-connected solar farms, power electronic devices converters can be from another location managed, but this net link likewise increases the potential for cyberattacks."

As a whole, power electronic devices make use of semiconductor switching gadgets to regulate and also transform electrical power flow from one form to one more. This modern technology has revolutionized modern life by simplifying production procedures, enhancing item efficiencies as well as improving the shipment of reliable power from utilities.

At a solar farm, power electronics devices transform direct current (DC) power created by solar photovoltaic panels right into alternating present (AC) electricity for use on the electrical grid. The United State Department of Energy approximates as much as 80% of electrical power can flow through power electronics devices by 2030.

To secure against cyber threats, the UGA researchers developed a system that can spot abnormalities in a power electronic converter's procedures in real-time utilizing only one voltage sensing unit and also one existing sensor. Combined with deep learning techniques, the system can distinguish between regular conditions, open-circuit faults, short-circuit faults as well as cyberattacks.

" To our understanding, this has actually not been tried in the past," said Song.

A little, easy sensing unit gadget attached to the power converter collects data on electrical waveforms and also feeds the information to a computer monitor. Even if an attack avoids the firewall software or security software program, the sensing units would discover unusual task in the electrical current of the power electronic devices gadget. The system also can run analysis tests to determine what type of issue has occurred.

" At your home, the power meter usually takes a reading as soon as every 15 minutes," said Song. "Our system is taking 10,000 examples every second."

Compared to existing detection techniques that just detect irregular waveforms, the UGA scientists claim their system verified much more proficient at recognizing cyberattacks in screening utilizing a solar farm model. The researchers additionally say their system can determine brand-new types of cyberattacks that haven't been programmed right into deep learning algorithms.

The scientists have submitted an U.S. license application for their technique, noting the sensor system might provide security against cyberattacks for producing systems, office complex and even smart homes.