Cryptography Considerations for Distributed Energy Resource Systems
- Sandia National Laboratories
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Distributed energy resource (DER) systems are rapidly being adopted and integrated within the electric power grid. Developments in smart grid devices and communication protocols are advancing the power system domain but are also introducing new cyber attack vectors. In particular, the ability to maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data is of increasing concern. Cryptography is a powerful tool that can be leveraged to protect DER systems and their critical information. This paper discusses prominent methods of cryptographic authentication and encryption that can be used to secure DER communications. Specific considerations and recommendations for applying cryptography to DER systems are provided, including system design constraints and system impact. These will be demonstrated with two case studies that assess cryptography hardware requirements and communications latency in DERs.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 1524311
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/CP-5R00-73178
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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