Vulnerability Analysis of Satellite-based Synchronized Smart Grids Monitoring Systems |
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Authors: | Alfredo Vaccaro Ahmed faheem Zobaa Giuseppina Formato |
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Affiliation: | 1. Dipartimento di Ingegneria , Università degli studi del Sannio , Benevento , Italy;2. Brunel Institute of Power Systems, School of Engineering and Design , Brunel University , Uxbridge , Middlesex , UK;3. Consorzio di Ricerca Sistema ad Agenti (CORISA), Dipartimento di Informatica , Università degli studi di Salerno, Fisciano (SA) Italy |
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Abstract: | Abstract The large-scale deployment of wide-area monitoring systems could play a strategic role in supporting the evolution of traditional power systems toward smarter and self-healing grids. The correct operation of these synchronized monitoring systems requires a common and accurate timing reference usually provided by a satellite-based global positioning system. Although these satellites signals provide timing accuracy that easily exceeds the needs of the power industry, they are extremely vulnerable to radio frequency interference. Consequently, a comprehensive analysis aimed at identifying their potential vulnerabilities is of paramount importance for correct and safe wide-area monitoring system operation. Armed with such a vision, this article presents and discusses the results of an experimental analysis aimed at characterizing the vulnerability of global positioning system based wide-area monitoring systems to external interferences. The article outlines the potential strategies that could be adopted to protect global positioning system receivers from external cyber-attacks and proposes decentralized defense strategies based on self-organizing sensor networks aimed at assuring correct time synchronization in the presence of external attacks. |
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Keywords: | wide-area monitoring systems phasor measurement unit global positioning system radio frequency interference, smart grid |
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