TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of Cyber Attacks on Grid-Connected PV Systems: Enhancing Resilience of Inverters and Protection Systems
AU - Priya Nambiar
AU - Suresh Menon
AU - Kavita Pillai
JF - Journal of Smart Grids, Energy Analytics and Optimization
JO - J Smart Grids Energy Anal Optim
Y1 - 2024
VL - 3
IS - 1
SP - 76
N2 - Over the past few years, integrating Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) with advanced communication infrastructures has created major challenges for the control and protection of electrical power systems. These difficulties stem mainly from the rapid evolution of smart grids and the growing threat of cyberattacks. As grid-tied solar Photovoltaic (PV) installations—equipped with smart inverters—become more widespread, their exposure to malicious cyber activities and the resulting risks to power network stability have become a pressing issue, especially given the inverter control logic. The present study examines the outcomes of targeted cyber intrusions targeting key PV system elements, with particular attention to the inverter and the Overcurrent Protection Relay (OCR). It further analyzes how these two components interact across a range of cyber-attack conditions. Simulations are conducted using a three-phase radial Electromagnetic Transients Program (EMTP) model to represent the grid and study transient responses during various cyber intrusions. Analysis results uncover the tight coupling between weaknesses in inverters and protection relays, demonstrating how disruption of one can severely affect the performance of the other. The work also quantifies how cyber incidents degrade the efficiency and operational reliability of PV systems connected to the grid. As a concrete illustration, when PV inverters were subjected to a brief 0.1 s pulse signal attack, the OCR failed to detect the abnormality and isolate the fault. This breakdown caused pronounced harmonic distortion together with considerable active power losses, stemming directly from the protection scheme’s inability to recognize and counteract the irregular disturbance. Overall, this investigation provides important new insights into cybersecurity challenges in grid-integrated solar PV installations. It underscores the urgent need to adopt stronger defensive strategies and build greater system resilience as power networks continue evolving into intelligent, interconnected smart grids.
UR - https://isespub.com/c723619764
ER -