Gestión y ciberseguridad para microredes eléctricas residenciales

Abstract - Electrical microgrids have enabled the integration of distributed energy resources with different generation characteristics but located locally into a well-defined area.  Microgrids look to ensure the energy supply for a specific load based on local energy resources. This fact has allowed the possibility of supplying energy to remote communities not interconnected to the grid by renewable energy sources integration. The microgrid concept changes how electricity users interact with the conventional energy grid. All this is possible by taking advantage of the potentiality of heterogeneous distributed generators and their integration within microgrids and ensuring local consumption based on local resources while reducing the dependence on the utility grid.  

The increasing concern for reducing the conventional energy sources impact based on fossil fuels has driven the use of renewable energy sources with the minimum environmental impact using photovoltaic panels and wind turbine generators within the household domine.  In this context, the residential microgrid concept emerges as an alternative for reducing the dependence on the utility grid, looking for an effective reduction on the energy bill.   

Therefore, in a residential microgrid, it is necessary to ensure proper interaction between heterogeneous and highly variable energy resources with loads of several different characteristics, mainly electronic loads, which should be available to satisfy the requirements of the household owners. So, the energy management systems coordinate and manage all the distributed energy resources and loads within the residential microgrid securing the reliability of the local energy system. The energy management system supports dedicated communication channels to facilitate the communication between the distributed energy resources and loads with the management units. The communication channel enables the definition of set points and control commands for the different loads and distributed generators allowing the energy management system to receive information about loads and consumption profiles to define the proper control and coordination action. This layer in the management structure is commonly known as the cybersecurity layer.  

Due to the large amount of information and complexity in the management of this information amount, energy management systems in residential microgrids use emerging technologies such as the Internet of things, advanced measurement infrastructure, or even cloud computing foreseing a faster and enhanced information processing and more efficient energy management that responds to user needs.

However, the new technology usage supported in communications systems implies risk in the information management and the microgrid reliability, as the stability of the electrical system can be compromised. Also, sensitive user information such as consumption preferences, and residence time may be manipulated or obtained from undesired entities. 

Based on the above, the need to address the cybersecurity of electric microgrids is the main theme of this book. The document addresses the general characteristics of an energy management system in residential microgrids and explores the vulnerability of its communications systems. It also explores the strategies and architectures that guarantee the cybersecurity of residential microgrids.

Keywords - Cybersecurity, Energy Management System, Residential Microgrids, Communication Systems.