Invention Reference Number
Power utilities are increasingly deploying intelligent electronic devices inside and outside substations. Sharing data in substations between utility-owned devices and customer-owned distributed energy resources (DERs) risks the integrity and confidentiality of that data. A means to protect this information is crucial. This technology is a cyber-grid guard system using distributed ledger technology (DLT) that includes substation architecture plus DERs. The power system applications evaluated included electrical fault and power quality detection, DER control and dispatch, and a simulated cyber event.
Description
Electrical utilities continue to deploy more intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) inside and outside electrical substation, and are associated with customer-owned distributed energy resources (DERs). The integrity and confidentiality of data from these IEDs, like power meters and protective relays, is crucial. Blockchain technology could improve the resilience of microgrids by improving the security of data sharing. The penetration of customer-owned DERs (renewable energy sources) and the increasing deployment of IEDs can lead to integrate power system applications with Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT). This technology implements the electrical faulted phase detection and power quality monitoring algorithms with a Cyber Grid Guard (CGG) system using DLT, a modular software framework built atop data storage layer that can enhance data protection. DLT technology can successfully protect, control and monitor applications.
Benefits
- Improved security of data
- Protects and controls data for power distribution
- Adaptable. Modular design provides diverse capabilities that can be adapted to various uses, such as different network or communication architectures.
Applications and Industries
- Electric utilities
- Wind farms
- Solar farms
Contact
- To learn more about this technology, email partnerships@ornl.gov or call 865-574-1051.
