Who Controls Your Power Grid? On the Impact of Misdirected Distributed Energy Resources on Grid Stability

The power grid is a critical infrastructure that is becoming increasingly indispensable due to rising electrification. Depending on their size, failures in the power grid are accompanied by considerable disruption to society. It is imperative to understand the vulnerabilities that exist within this intricate network, as attacks on the power grid have the potential to wreak havoc on a national and even global scale. With the growing trend of smart grid technologies, the attack surface has expanded, making it easier for malicious actors to compromise multiple entry points. Therefore, quantifying the number of devices required for an attack is a critical aspect of grid security. This underlying paper underscores the importance of identifying vulnerabilities within the power grid’s control systems, understanding potential attack vectors, and implementing robust security measures. Our results reveal a concerning reality: malicious actors with a relatively limited degree of control over the technologies mentioned above have the ability to exert a profound influence on the balance of the power grid, especially with regard to the vital frequency containment reserve. ... mehrBy illuminating these potential points of influence, we aim to create a deeper understanding of the multi-layered threats that can compromise the resilience of our power grids.