System Cybersecurity for IEEE 2030.5 DER Networks

As society’s demand for energy switches from fossil fuels

to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, the location and number of energy generation systems is changing dramatically. While in the past relatively few, large generators served virtually all electrical needs in the U.S., future demand will be served by millions of small Distributed Energy Resources (DER’s), many located on residential home rooftops, commercial buildings, or land that is closer to energy demand. On the regulatory front, important standards, like IEEE 1547-2018 at the federal level or California Rule 21 or Hawaii Rule 14H as the state level, are driving the architecture of these DER systems.

As DER systems come online, many systems including; PV systems, stationary energy storage systems, electric vehicles (EV’s) and EV charging stations) will attach to data communication networks that conform to the IEEE 2030.5 standard. These networks will enable DER systems to communicate with the local utility for the purpose of managing grid health and optimizing total system cost. Such an environment represents an inviting target for criminals, terrorists and other adversaries.

This course will examine the evolution of DER networks based on the IEEE 2030.5 standard, how this evolution introduces cybersecurity risks, and how these risks can be mitigated. This course is intended for students who are interested in exploring technical (e.g. cybersecurity, engineering, software, systems management), professional (e.g. architecture, marketing, finance), and operational (e.g. operations & maintenance, sit monitoring) careers in the rapidly growing distributed energy industry. Students will acquire a foundation in the basic cybersecurity concepts that are needed to understand the more detailed considerations associated with securing DER in the grid.

Course Highlights:

• Grid standards evolution in the U.S.
• IEEE 1547-2018 and the introduction of required communication interfaces in DER equipment
• IEEE 2030.5-2018 standard technology composition
• Size, scope, and growth rate of the IEEE 2030.5 network attack surface
• Public Key Infrastructure requirements for IEEE 2030.5 networks
• Trust chain of security certificates in the DER context
• The role of communication interface testing and certification in DER cybersecurity
• Top 10 threats and vulnerabilities for DER networks
• Industry and regulatory initiatives to address current and future DER cybersecurity threats

Course Learning Outcomes:

• Understand how IEEE 2030.5-based networks are applied to DER systems
• Explain the implications of remote DER system management to cybersecurity and grid health
• System architecture of IEEE 2030.5 networks in the DER context
• Knolwedgable on the scope of cybersecurity features in contemporary IEEE 2030.5 products and solutions
• Identify security vulnerabilities and threats associated with DER networks based on the IEEE 2030.5 standard
• Mitigation plans for addressing current and future cybersecurity threats

Course Typically Offered: TBD

Prerequisite: N/A. While there are no prerequisites to this course, students with  knowledge of Distributed Energy Resources and/or data communication systems based on TCP/IP protocols will benefit most.

Contact: For more information about this course, please email unexengr@ucsd.edu.

Course Number: ECE-40304
Credit: 1.00 unit(s)