Review of detection, assessment and mitigation of security risk in smart grid
The integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into the existing power grid has created new problems to the grid. The grid network has become more vulnerable to security threats and risk which is a corollary to the modern data network. Smart Grid has strict latency requirement for data communication and the violation of this latency is very costly. This paper assesses the threats and vulnerabilities associated with the Smart Grid network and reviews the methods to mitigate these security risks.
Electricity demand management by optimising the use of HVAC and HWS through AMI
The consumption of electricity is increasing with consistent increase in demand of electricity. Advance metering infrastructure (AMI) is a part of energy management system (EMS) that can pro-actively control the consumption of electricity by engaging with utilities for demand management in real-time. The analysis of the electricity consumption pattern of an Australian house is conducted in this study. The investigation reveals that Heat Ventilation Air conditioning (HVAC) and Hot Water System (HWS) consume approximately 50% of the total electricity consumption. Optimised utilization of these two systems efficiently using AMI can help in reduction of electricity consumption. The study also i…
Review of web-based information security threats in smart grid
The penetration of digital devices in Smart Grid has created a big security issue. OWASP is an online community of security professionals that identifies the most critical web application security risk in IT domain. Smart Grid also uses client-server based web-applications to collect and disseminate information. Therefore, Smart Grid network is analogous to IT network and similar kind of risk exists in the Smart Grid. This paper review the security risk in Smart Grid domain with reference to OWASP study. The Smart Grid security is more biased towards vulnerabilities associated with a machine to machine communication. Methodology to minimise the risk of attack is also discussed in this resea…
Review of machine to machine communication in smart grid
Machine to machine communication (M2M) is a communication architecture that enables heterogeneous devices to interact with each other without human intervention. Smart Grid (SG) is one of the many applications areas in the M2M communication. Smart Grid demands advanced communication infrastructure for two-way communications between devices deployed at various locations in energy generation, transmission, distribution and consumption. The billions of electronic devices connected to the Smart Grid pose a big challenge to grid communication. Therefore, a feasible solution to efficient M2M has to overcome challenges of energy efficiency of connected devices, interoperability, coverage area, int…
Spectrum Sensing in Cognitive Radio Using CNN-RNN and Transfer Learning
Cognitive radio has been proposed to improve spectrum utilization in wireless communication. Spectrum sensing is an essential component of cognitive radio. The traditional methods of spectrum sensing are based on feature extraction of a received signal at a given point. The development in artificial intelligence and deep learning have given an opportunity to improve the accuracy of spectrum sensing by using cooperative spectrum sensing and analyzing the radio scene. This research proposed a hybrid model of convolution and recurrent neural network for spectrum sensing. The research further enhances the accuracy of sensing for low SNR signals through transfer learning. The results of modellin…
Review of IEEE 802.22 and IEC 61850 for real-time communication in Smart Grid
Real time data communication in Smart Grid is a big challenge due to its vastness and complexities. Wireless Regional Area Network (WRAN) - IEEE 802.22 permits opportunistic use of television white space (TVWS) by secondary user, if it is not being utilized by primary user. This standard has the potential to transfer big data of smart grid in real time to control center. The IEC 61850 is the standard for electrical substation automation that uses TCP/IP for data transfer among different ‘intelligent electronic devices’ (IEDs). IEC 61850 consists of different message types which belong to different performance classes that are mapped to different communication protocols. The different perfor…
Spectrum Hole Detection for Cognitive Radio through Energy Detection using Random Forest
The growth of wireless data is the major driving force for an exponential increase in wireless communication. Cognitive Radio is one of the emerging wireless technologies that can be used for smart utility networks. Optimum utilization of the wireless spectrum is the objective of Cognitive Radio. Finding a spectrum hole through intelligent means is essential for the success of Cognitive Radio. Dynamic spectrum allocation is also an efficient technique for spectrum allocation. It will lead to a better spectrum utilization. In this paper, some of the machine learning techniques are used to find a frequency range for dynamic spectrum allocation. Different machine learning techniques such as Lo…
Integration of IEC 61850 MMS and IEEE 802.22 for Smart Grid Communication
The reliability of Smart Grid depends on two-way communication between substation and utility. IEC 61850 is an international standard defined to ensure interoperability between Substation Automation System (SAS). IEC 61850 services are mapped on the Manufacturing Message Specification (MMS) especially for meter data management system. MMS is the OSI protocol that run over TCP/IP or OSI networks to support IEC 61850 services. Presently, the MMS uses Ethernet as the layer 2 protocol. However, for long distance communication in remote areas wireless communication is the prefered mode. The Cognitive Radio based IEEE 802.22 is next generation standard for Wireless Regional Area Network (WRAN) th…
Compliance of IEEE 802.22 WRAN for field area network in smart grid
Distributed power system network is going to be complex, and it will require high-speed, reliable and secure communication systems for managing intermittent generation with coordination of centralised power generation, including load control. Cognitive Radio (CR) is highly favourable for providing communications in Smart Grid by using spectrum resources opportunistically. The IEEE 802.22 Wireless Regional Area Network (WRAN) having the capabilities of CR use vacant channels opportunistically in the frequency range of 54 MHz to 862 MHz occupied by TV band. A comprehensive review of using IEEE 802.22 for Field Area Network in power system network using spectrum sensing (CR based communication…
Proactive Handoff of Secondary User in Cognitive Radio Network Using Machine Learning Techniques
Spectrum management always appears as an essential part of modern communication systems. Handoff is initiated when the signal strength of a current user deteriorates below a certain threshold. In cognitive radio network, the perception of handoff is different due to the presence of two categories of users: certified/primary user and uncertified/secondary user. The reason for the spectrum handoff arises when the primary user (PU) returns to one of its band used by the secondary user. The spectrum handoff is of two types: reactive handoff and proactive handoff. There are certain limitations in reactive handoff, such as it suffers from prolonged handoff latency and interference. In the proacti…
Electricity load forecasting for Urban area using weather forecast information
The global demand for energy is increasing daily with the expansion of energy infrastructure and the addition of new appliances. Efficient Energy Management System (EMS) is the need of the day. All residential and commercial buildings can achieve better energy efficiency and consumption with the use of EMS. Load forecasting is one of the methods to enable EMS to work efficiently. The accuracy of load forecast depends on many factors. The load forecast model must consider the weather forecast for the region in developing an accurate forecast. This paper develops Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Bagged Regression Trees to generate and predicted load forecast in Urban area using Meteorologi…
Review of information and communication technologies for smart micro-grid automation
The growing challenges of Smart Micro-Grid can only be met if secure and fast information and communication technology (ICT) solutions are developed. In this paper, some of the ICT techniques are reviewed for smart micro-grid automation. Firstly, an overview of the role of ICT in grid distribution is explained with respect to electricity value chain in power distribution. Further, each domain in the value chain is analyzed with respect to ICT applications in power generation, transmission, distribution and consumption. ICT stands as a prominent driving force to enhance trustworthiness, security, and productivity of the power distribution through information exchange, regulated generation, d…
Blockchain-based trust management and authentication of devices in smart grid
The digitalization of the power grid and advancement in intelligent technologies have enabled the service provider to convert the existing electrical grid into a smart grid. The transformation of the grid will help in integrating cleaner energy technologies with energy management to improve power network efficiency. Internet of things (IoT) and various network components need to be deployed to harness the full potential of the smart grid. Also, integrating intermittent renewable energy sources, energy storage, intelligent control of selected power-intensive loads, etc will improve energy efficiency. But deployment of this information and communication technologies will make the grid more vu…
Data Communication Security of Advanced Metering Infrastructure in Smart Grid
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is very critical part for wired/wireless communication in Smart Grid. It involves communication of vital smart metering data to central control center for smooth functioning of smart grid. Security and reliability of data is of paramount importance for operational reliability of smart grid. AMI network is susceptible to many cyber security threats and attacks. Therefore it is desirable to prevent the data from such vulnerabilities. The paper proposes two-phase method to provide security of data using dedicated authentication server which inhibits malicious and unauthorized nodes to gain access to AMI communication network. Secure environment is created…
Blockchain based Device identification and authentication in a Smart Grid
The power grid is a critical infrastructure of a country that needs protection and security. According to the report of the International Energy Agency, the electricity demand is constantly increasing the world over. Countries are moving towards green energy and efforts are being made to integrate these green energy into the main grid. Smart Grid will improve the reliability and efficiency of the grid by managing the energy demand. Cyber-attacks and cyber terrorism is also increasingly targeting the electrical grid. Intruders may try to gain access to the grid by exploiting the vulnerability of the grid. IEDs/devices are the endpoints of the network and they are the weakest link in the enti…
Cognitive Radio Application for Smart Grid
The communication infrastructure between energy generation, transmission, distribution and utilization will require multi-way communications, interoperability between the advanced and existing system, and end-to-end reliable and secure communications with low-latencies. Revolutionary communication architecture is required for effective operation and control of smart grid, and cognitive radio based communication architecture can provide a unique solution. By leveraging cognitive radio technology, the suggested communications infrastructure promises to utilize potentially all available spectrum resources efficiently in the smart grid. The radio agility allows the smart grid devices to sense t…