Cybersecurity for Utility-scale Solar Power Plants

Utility-scale solar PV has become a substantial component of the bulk electric grid. As such, its safe and reliable operation is critical to the grid operators' ability to maintain a safe and reliable grid. These systems, however, are vulnerable to cyber-exploitations, which can result in equipment damages, large-scale black outs, and the loss of confidence in the electric market mechanism.
This session will start with a discussion on relevant grid-support capabilities of inverter-based resources (IBR) and their importance to the reliability and stability of the transmission grid. It will then look into the typical design of a utility-scale PV power plant and identify its cyber-vulnerabilities, risks, and their potential impacts. Mitigation approaches will be presented and discussed.