… the following vulnerabilities are the most serious in smart grids:ġ) Customer security: Smart meters autonomously collect massive amounts of data and transport it to the utility company, consumer, and service providers. These vulnerabilities might allow attackers to access the network, break the confidentiality and integrity of the transmitted data, and make the service unavailable. “ Smart grid network introduces enhancements and improved capabilities to the conventional power network making it more complex and vulnerable to different types of attacks. Selected quotations from this article are as follows: We conclude by over viewing the current and needed security solutions for the smart gird.”

We discuss then the challenges that exist in securing the smart grid network and how the current security solutions applied for IT networks are not sufficient to secure smart grid networks. We highlight the complexity of the smart grid network and discuss the vulnerabilities specific to this huge heterogeneous network. In this paper, we survey the latest on smart grid security. Such a massive network comes with many security concerns and vulnerabilities. A smart grid is a huge complex network composed of millions of devices and entities connected with each other. Such integration empowers the electrical utilities providers and consumers, improves the efficiency and the availability of the power system while constantly monitoring, controlling and managing the demands of customers. Smart grid integrates the traditional electrical power grid with information and communication technologies (ICT). “The traditional electrical power grid is currently evolving into the smart grid. Smart Grid Security: Threats, Vulnerabilities and Solutions This article was published in the International Journal of Renewable Energy and Smart Grid (IJRESG), (Vol. Smartgridsenteret works to promote research, education, test and demonstration activities related to the Smart Grid in Norway.What follows are selected quotations reprinted with permission from ETP, Engineering and Technology Publishing.

We are also a host of Smartgridsenteret (the Norwegian Smart Grid Centre), which is a membership organisation for everyone working with the Smart Grid in Norway. SINTEF is a host of one of the biggest research centres in the world on the Smart Grid, FME CINELDI (Centre for Intelligent Electricity Distribution). In addition, we work with our customers to test and further develop existing technologies as part of pilot and demonstration projects. SINTEF runs research projects of all sizes that focus on innovative technologies and methods for digitalising and modernising the distribution grid, and we welcome participation from both the private and public sector.

Therefore, cyber security is an important part of our Smart Grid work. However, a challenge with a digitalised grid is that it also presents many challenges, such as cyberattacks. The Smart Grid presents many opportunities. In addition, a Smart Grid will facilitate an increased use of wind, wave and solar power than the current grid allows. This will save significant maintenance costs and contribute to reducing the number of expensive cables that will have to be built as society requires more power due to increased electrification. For example, this technology will enable faults to be dealt with before they occur, allow power customers to use their power more efficiently, and improve the utilisation of the power grid’s capacity. However, society is developing faster than ever, and if the power grid does not manage to keep up with these developments, it will not be able to handle a fully electrified society in the future, where cars, boats and industry run on power produced by “new” green energy sources, such as wind, wave and solar power, instead of fossil fuels.Īt SINTEF, we investigate solutions that allow us to digitalise and modernise the power grid in a way that is as cost-efficient as possible for both our customers and society in general.Ī large part of this work is developing technology that will automate the planning and operation of the future Smart Grid to a much greater extent compared to the current non-digitalised grid. The current power grid is the result of decades of expansions and adaptations.

Smart grids