Blockchain Support For Time-Critical Self-Healing In Smart Distribution Grids
Challenge and objective
Self-healing is a function whereby Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) can automatically reconfigure the power circuits to isolate faults and restore power to the relevant sections. A self-healing application may be faced by challenges of emerging cyber-physical security threats, affecting the power system reliability. In this work, a novel concept using blockchain as a second-tier security mechanism to support time-critical self-healing operations in smart distribution grids is proposed.
Work performed
Proposed architecture that utilise blockchain as a second-tier security layer to validate the time critical messages in a self-healing application.
Simulation study was conducted to illustrate how the proposed method performs.
Significant results
The simulation analysis showed that the proposed architecture results in less downtime (no power state) for the DSO considered when compared to a normal self-healing.
Impact for distribution system innovation
The proposed architecture can improve the cyber-physical security for real-time self-healing in the distribution systems (by reversing some actions) thereby increasing the grid immunity towards cyber-physical attacks.
The proposed blockchain technology can also maintain the bookkeeping which can be used to learn and analyse the vulnerabilities from successful cyber-attacks and improve the cyber security of the grid in the long term.
