Converged Approach towards Resilient Industrial control systems and Cyber Assurance (CAPRICA)
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen's University Belfast
Department Name: Sch of Electronics, Elec Eng & Comp Sci
Abstract
Energy production and distribution is undergoing radical change driven by a "Green" agenda pushing for increased energy conservation, greater emphasis on renewable energy sources and more sophisticated demand side business models. The UK currently has 12% of its energy requirements met by wind farms. This percentage is set to grow as wind generated electricity is imported from neighbouring countries. For example Ireland (where already 50% of domestic energy requirements are met by wind farms) will become a net exporter of wind generated electricity in the near future. The significance of this market change cannot be underestimated and will lead to broad infrastructural change. Wind generated electricity is bursty in nature, largely unpredictable and seldom occurs when consumer demand is greatest. This is true of most renewable energy sources. Wind farms are typically sited in remote areas of low population density and collectively represent a highly distributed generation source. This is in stark contrast to the traditional grid which can be characterised as a strictly hierarchical, centrally managed network of carbon or nuclear energy fuelled generators which can accurately predict demand side requirements and vary their output accordingly.
Grid infrastructure and methods of operation will change radically in order to accommodate new, distributed, renewable energy generation and a growing population of prosumers - retail customers who consume and produce energy in tandem. The technical challenges are manifold and many of the assumptions underpinning traditional grid operations are rapidly dissolving. Energy network operators urgently need new guidance and direction to meet the dual challenges of:
1. Maintaining operational control over new, highly distributed generation facilities embedded in a prosumer
driven, highly connected, ICT dependent, grid infrastructure.
2. Implementing sufficient control measures to protect grid operations from Internet borne threats and attacks.
Caprica meets these challenges head on and proposes to investigate the phenomena of synchronous islanding via experimentation on the only large scale synchrophasor network available in the UK. Islanding occurs when a geographic portion of the distribution network becomes electrically isolated from the rest of the grid. Reconnecting an island back onto the grid can be very dangerous if the two portions of the network are not properly synchronised. Phase drift is a likely scenario for a self-powered island driven by wind or other renewable generation sources. The QUB EPIC team have been working on this problem and can demonstrate solutions based on a distributed control architecture using synchrophasor measurement devices. The synchrophasors operate over a public telecoms network which immediately leads to cyber vulnerabilities in the grid control system. A cyber-attack which manipulates synchrophasor measurements could cause untold damage to grid infrastructure and consumer equipment on a national scale. To counter this risk the EPIC and CSIT research groups have come together to collaboratively investigate the control and cyber security elements of synchronous islanding. By providing an integrated view of grid status and cyber defences we will demonstrate improved operational decision making, improved grid resilience in the face of cyber attack, and lay the groundwork for a new distributed control architecture for the UK smartgrid.
Grid infrastructure and methods of operation will change radically in order to accommodate new, distributed, renewable energy generation and a growing population of prosumers - retail customers who consume and produce energy in tandem. The technical challenges are manifold and many of the assumptions underpinning traditional grid operations are rapidly dissolving. Energy network operators urgently need new guidance and direction to meet the dual challenges of:
1. Maintaining operational control over new, highly distributed generation facilities embedded in a prosumer
driven, highly connected, ICT dependent, grid infrastructure.
2. Implementing sufficient control measures to protect grid operations from Internet borne threats and attacks.
Caprica meets these challenges head on and proposes to investigate the phenomena of synchronous islanding via experimentation on the only large scale synchrophasor network available in the UK. Islanding occurs when a geographic portion of the distribution network becomes electrically isolated from the rest of the grid. Reconnecting an island back onto the grid can be very dangerous if the two portions of the network are not properly synchronised. Phase drift is a likely scenario for a self-powered island driven by wind or other renewable generation sources. The QUB EPIC team have been working on this problem and can demonstrate solutions based on a distributed control architecture using synchrophasor measurement devices. The synchrophasors operate over a public telecoms network which immediately leads to cyber vulnerabilities in the grid control system. A cyber-attack which manipulates synchrophasor measurements could cause untold damage to grid infrastructure and consumer equipment on a national scale. To counter this risk the EPIC and CSIT research groups have come together to collaboratively investigate the control and cyber security elements of synchronous islanding. By providing an integrated view of grid status and cyber defences we will demonstrate improved operational decision making, improved grid resilience in the face of cyber attack, and lay the groundwork for a new distributed control architecture for the UK smartgrid.
Planned Impact
1. New methods of control over the evolving smartgrid infrastructure containing a significant proportion of
distributed generation via renewable energy sources. Specifically new operational methodologies for dealing
with "power system islanding" whilst maintaining supply continuity to end-users and maintaining their safety.
First users of this research output will be Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) plc.
2. New cyber security technology to protect distribution network infrastructure and critical operations carried out
via synchrophasors. Specifically SCADA protocol specific intrusion detection systems based on stateful
protocol analysis and model based payload analysis of Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs).
First users of this technology will be Thales UK.
3. New integrated threat detection methods using combined intelligence from both the cyber domain and the
distributed control domain.
First users of this technology will be SONI.
4. New grid operating procedures to facilitate "maintenance windows" which can be used to upgrade portions of
the distribution network. In this way grid infrastructure can be upgraded via a rolling upgrade programme and
ongoing protection against evolving cyber threats can be effectively implemented.
First users of this technology will be SSE.
distributed generation via renewable energy sources. Specifically new operational methodologies for dealing
with "power system islanding" whilst maintaining supply continuity to end-users and maintaining their safety.
First users of this research output will be Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) plc.
2. New cyber security technology to protect distribution network infrastructure and critical operations carried out
via synchrophasors. Specifically SCADA protocol specific intrusion detection systems based on stateful
protocol analysis and model based payload analysis of Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs).
First users of this technology will be Thales UK.
3. New integrated threat detection methods using combined intelligence from both the cyber domain and the
distributed control domain.
First users of this technology will be SONI.
4. New grid operating procedures to facilitate "maintenance windows" which can be used to upgrade portions of
the distribution network. In this way grid infrastructure can be upgraded via a rolling upgrade programme and
ongoing protection against evolving cyber threats can be effectively implemented.
First users of this technology will be SSE.
Organisations
- Queen's University Belfast (Lead Research Organisation)
- CPNI (Co-funder)
- Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) (Collaboration)
- University of the Andes (Collaboration)
- Thales Group (Collaboration)
- Statnett (Collaboration)
- Statnett (Norway) (Project Partner)
- Thales (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Scottish and Southern Energy (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
Publications
McLorn G
(2019)
Load and harmonic distortion characterization of modern low-energy lighting under applied voltage variation
in Electric Power Systems Research
Jaramillo A
(2023)
Distributed Energy Resources Electric Profile Identification in Low Voltage Networks Using Supervised Machine Learning Techniques
in IEEE Access
Khan R
(2017)
Design and Implementation of Security Gateway for Synchrophasor Based Real-Time Control and Monitoring in Smart Grid
in IEEE Access
Zhao X
(2017)
GPS-Disciplined Analog-to-Digital Converter for Phasor Measurement Applications
in IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement
Laverty D
(2022)
GNSS Time Signal Spoofing Detector for Electrical Substations
in IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid
Laverty D
(2021)
Islanding detection by phase difference method using a low cost quasi-PMU
in IET Generation, Transmission & Distribution
Moreno Jaramillo A
(2022)
Effective identification of distributed energy resources using smart meter net-demand data
in IET Smart Grid
Brogan P
(2018)
Technique for pre-compliance testing of phasor measurement units
in International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems
Khan R
(2017)
STRIDE-based threat modeling for cyber-physical systems
Description | Demonstration of a full end-end secure synchronous island power system with Statnett. A number of the findings have been translated into demonstrators and prototypes for the European FP7 project, called SPARKS. Use of the finding and PoC prototype for a new high-tech start-up in ICS security called Affyon (www.affyon.com). Use-case study with Statnett, the system operator of the Norwegian power system. |
First Year Of Impact | 2018 |
Sector | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Electronics |
Impact Types | Societal Economic |
Description | NSF Workshop - Real Time Data Analytics for the Resilient Electric Grid |
Geographic Reach | North America |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | NCSC (RITICS) |
Amount | £250,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2019 |
End | 09/2020 |
Description | NCSC - RITICS Bridging Science Programme |
Amount | £250,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | RFA15331 |
Organisation | National Cyber Security Centre |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2018 |
End | 04/2018 |
Description | NCSC Industrial Control System Interconnected Testbeds |
Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | National Cyber Security Centre |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2018 |
Title | DIGSilent to Point-on-Wave for Synchrophasor Estimation |
Description | Allows power system events, particularly transients, to be simulated in industry standard software but the data extracted and presented as point-on-wave sampled values which can be processed by the OpenPMU system for generation of Synchrophasor values. |
Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | This system has been used to study the effectiveness of PMUs during transient events. The outcomes and model will later be published. |
Description | OpenPMU Simulation Integration |
Organisation | University of the Andes |
Country | Colombia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are exploring opportunities to integrate the OpenPMU platform into the GridTeractions real-time scenario simulation tool developed at University of the Andes. |
Collaborator Contribution | Presentation on the GridTeractions platform. Identification of local funding to support a programme of work. |
Impact | None at this time, too early. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | SSE Power Distribution interest in PMU Measurement Technology |
Organisation | Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | An outcome of this project was the development of an open source hardware platform yielding GPS synchronised measurements of power system voltages and currents. This is an important precursor, indeed a fundamental enabling technology, of Phasor Measurement Units (PMU). SSE are interested in very high quality phasor estimation for their system state estimation projects. This work is targeted to delivering a resilient power system in light of changing generation and consumption patterns brought about by sustainable energy programmes. The open source measurement hardware developed is unique in that it allows complete visibility over the entire analogue and digital signal path such that the measurement process is transparent, deterministic and predictable. This is not readily available in the commercial sector. |
Collaborator Contribution | SSE have made recommendations as to their needs in terms of the performance of the measurement device and have made available to QUB datasets to allow the device to me made compatible with existing methods of data exchange. |
Impact | This work is in the early stages of development so there are limited outputs specific to this collaborative work at this time. However, the open source measurement system has been accepted for publication in IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement. It will appear in a forthcoming issue titled "GPS Disciplined Analogue to Digital Converter for Phasor Measurement Applications". |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Statnett SF (OpenPMU) |
Organisation | Statnett |
Country | Norway |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Statnett SF conducted an evaluation of the OpenPMU platform for use in their substations. This involved feedback on design and user requirements from Statnett SF which were developed into a prototype by the team at QUB. |
Collaborator Contribution | User requirements, standards identification, timing requirements. |
Impact | Prototype PMU. Internal report at Statnett SF. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Statnett SF interest in PMU Calibration |
Organisation | Statnett |
Country | Norway |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | An outcome of this project was the development of a test procedure to validate the compliance of a Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) against the IEEE C37.118.1-2011 and C37.118.1-2014 dynamic test requirements. Statnett use PMUs to provide real-time system condition information, and to initiate certain operations related to grid stability. It had been anticipated that there was variation between vendors in terms of standards compliance. The CAPRICA project was able to determine this was the case, and evaluate the magnitude of the discrepancies and the impact this may have on system operation. |
Collaborator Contribution | Statnett SF provided seven commercial PMU devices (approx. £150k of equipment) to be evaluated in the study, and provided significant resource in terms of protection engineer time and liaising with device vendors with regards setting up the laboratory |
Impact | The outputs from this work exist as a report made to Statnett SF. The report is also being prepared into a journal article for publication. Another journal article which details the test procedure itself has been submitted for review, and is presently being prepared before resubmission. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Thales UK interest in GDOI project outputs |
Organisation | Thales Group |
Country | France |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | An outcome of the project was the development of software implementing the Group Domain of Interpretation (GDOI) cryptographic protocol for key management in in the IEC61850-90-5 protocol. Through discussion with Thales around securing satellite communications we have become aware of a separate interest of theirs in group key management protocols. The GDOI implementation from CAPRICA will therefore be evaluated by Thales to establish its potential usage in satellite related applications. |
Collaborator Contribution | Through a long-established agreement with Thales UK, they will have access to our code, and developers in order to assess the developed GDOI implementation software for commercial applicability. |
Impact | Although Thales have been a partner in the CAPRICA project from the outset, this application space for the GDOI work has only recently emerged as a possible route for exploitation. Consequently the outputs remain to be fully explored and developed. This collaboration is intended to lead to economic impact via commercial exploitation by a leading UK company. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Title | GPS Disciplined Analogue to Digital Converter |
Description | OpenPMU is a project concernd with developing an Open Source Phasor Measurement Unit. This intrinsically requires open source hardware and open source software. The objective is to yield a measurement device in which the signal path is completely transparent to the end user from the application of analogue voltage and currents, to the generation of packets of numerical measurements. The CAPRICA project has enable a significant new stage in the OpenPMU project through the development of an open source Analogue to Digital Converter which is synchronized to GPS time signals using hard real-time embedded software. Details of this design have been accepted for publication in IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement and will appear in a forthcoming issue under the title "GPS Disciplined Analogue to Digital Converter for Phasor Measurement Applications". The work will also be presented at the IEEE International Instrumentation and Measurement Technologies Conference (I2MTC) 2017, Turin, Italy. |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Open Source License? | Yes |
Impact | SSE Power Distribution has indicated that this work has potential to contribute to their system state estimation project, to improve the resilience of the electrical power system. |
URL | http://www.OpenPMU.org |
Title | Instrumentation & Protection Laboratory |
Description | A laboratory is developed featuring several pieces of commercial instrumentation, protection and control equipment from multiple vendors. The goal is to establish a means for interoperability testing and validation. |
Type Of Technology | Physical Model/Kit |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Impact | This lab is state of the art and uses novel protocols such as SDN, OpenFlow, PTP, not previously used in this context. |
URL | http://www.openpmu.org |
Title | OpenPMU Telecoms Library - IEEE C37.118.2 |
Description | A software library which enables open source PMU applications to communicate using the industry standard IEEE C37.118.2 format. |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Open Source License? | Yes |
Impact | This software makes many improvements on reliability and compatibility compared to incumbent softwares. |
URL | http://www.openpmu.org |
Title | Precision Time Laboratory |
Description | A precision time protocol clock and related equipment has been purchased and installed in the laboratory, providing atomic time to various test and measurement studies in the PMU area. |
Type Of Technology | Systems, Materials & Instrumental Engineering |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Impact | Validation of novel PMU data acquisition clock technologies. |
Description | Invited talk at ERIGRID Workshop, Vienna, Austria |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Members of the large ERIGRID H2020 project consortium attended. The project focuses on smart grid technologies, from a power systems perspective. The talk initiated a number of discussions, and further research relationships were established as a result. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://erigrid.eu/erigrid-side-event-at-ired-on-16-october-2018/ |
Description | NASPI DisTT Webinar - OpenPMU: Experience and lessons from operating PMUs in Distribution Networks |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation of state of the art PMU communications technologies and update on the OpenPMU project. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Participation in a advisory committee - NSF Workshop - Real Time Data Analytics for the Resilient Electric Grid (2018) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Discussion forum on the use of PMU technology especially in power distribution networks, and the measurement, data and communication issues that arise. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |