Optimal Planning for Enhancing the Resilience of Modern Distribution Systems Against Cyberattacks

2025-07-29

AI Summary

Malicious manipulation of high-power IoT devices—such as electric vehicle chargers—can induce localized load disturbances and targeted attacks on voltage-sensitive nodes, which conventional distribution protection schemes fail to mitigate effectively, often resulting in voltage violations and service interruptions. Method: This paper introduces the first systematic modeling of intelligent, voltage-sensitivity-driven local attacks at the distribution level; it further proposes a proactive resilience-oriented planning framework leveraging distributed generation (DG) as a key flexibility resource. The framework integrates voltage sensitivity assessment, attack scenario modeling, and preventive DG placement with optimized real-time dispatch. Contribution/Results: Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed strategy significantly suppresses attack-induced voltage deviations, enhances system disturbance rejection capability, and improves post-fault recovery performance. The approach establishes a novel paradigm for cyber-resilient planning of distribution networks operating within IoT-enabled environments.

Technology Category

• Search and Optimization: Distributed Search
• Computer Vision: Adversarial Attacks & Robustness
• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Plan Execution and Monitoring

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Energy management for devices in mobile Web and WoT environments
• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Attacks and countermeasures in recommendation systems
• Security and Privacy: Large-scale security measurements

Abstract

The increasing integration of IoT-connected devices in smart grids has introduced new vulnerabilities at the distribution level. Of particular concern is the potential for cyberattacks that exploit high-wattage IoT devices, such as EV chargers, to manipulate local demand and destabilize the grid. While previous studies have primarily focused on such attacks at the transmission level, this paper investigates their feasibility and impact at the distribution level. We examine how cyberattackers can target voltage-sensitive nodes, especially those exposed by the presence of high-consumption devices, to cause voltage deviation and service disruption. Our analysis demonstrates that conventional grid protections are insufficient against these intelligent, localized attacks. To address this, we propose resilience strategies using distributed generation (DGs), exploring their role in preemptive planning. This research highlights the urgent need for distribution-level cyber resilience planning in smart grids.

Problem

• Investigates cyberattack feasibility on IoT devices in smart grids
• Analyzes voltage deviation risks from targeted high-consumption nodes
• Proposes distributed generation strategies for grid resilience

Innovation

• Distributed generation for resilience planning
• Targeting voltage-sensitive nodes analysis
• Preemptive strategies against localized cyberattacks