As the renewable energy sector becomes increasingly digitalized, the threat of cyberattacks also grows accordingly. In 2023 alone, 90% of the world’s largest energy companies suffered a cybersecurity breach. Therefore, the Dutch Institute for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) and the company Jungle AI are partnering up to prevent cyber threats.
During a recent demonstration at the SWITCH renewable energy field lab in Lelystad, TNO showcased a realistic live cyberattack on one of its wind turbines. The cyber defense algorithms developed in collaboration with Jungle AI successfully detected the intrusion, underscoring the efficacy of their cutting-edge security measures in real-world scenarios.
Initially designed for optimizing performance and maintenance, Jungle AI’s algorithms have been adapted to bolster cyber defenses. By analyzing network and sensor data, these algorithms now play a vital role in identifying potential cyber threats, offering a sophisticated layer of protection for critical energy infrastructures.
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Studying energy systems’ resilience
The SWITCH field lab in Lelystad is an advanced research facility for renewable energy, developed by TNO and Wageningen University & Research/ACRRES. It comprises multiple wind turbines, solar panels, a battery, and a kW(h)-scale hydrogen electrolyser. This setup enables the testing of grid balancing strategies and cyber resilience technologies in realistic conditions. It brings together cybersecurity experts and energy specialists to tackle the urgent challenge of securing our digital energy infrastructure.
To this extent, digital resilience is gaining momentum in the energy sector, particularly in the realms of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT). This includes systems used for tasks like the remote monitoring and control of wind turbines. IT encompasses systems designed for data processing, such as computers, servers, and software. In contrast, OT involves hardware and software that directly manage physical devices, processes, and events within industrial settings.
The partnership between TNO and Jungle AI is part of the SWITCH2CREF innovation project, funded by TKI Offshore Energy, and served as a vital platform for discussions around future challenges and resilience strategies. Experts anticipate that the insights gained from this project will extend beyond the energy sector, benefiting industries such as water, transport, and agriculture, which also face heightened cyber risks. As the SWITCH project progresses, the partners are seeking additional industrial collaborators to expand their impact and further secure vulnerable sectors against these growing threats.
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