From Balance to Breach: Cyber Threats to Battery Energy Storage Systems

TL;DR

This paper investigates cyber threats to battery energy storage systems in power grids, proposing a model and simulating attacks to understand vulnerabilities and potential impacts on grid stability.

Contribution

It introduces a reference model for cloud-controlled energy storage systems and evaluates their cybersecurity vulnerabilities through simulation of cyberattacks.

Findings

Identified the attack surface of the system

Demonstrated potential for cyberattacks to threaten grid stability

Provided insights into cybersecurity risks for energy storage systems

Abstract

Battery energy storage systems are an important part of modern power systems as a solution to maintain grid balance. However, such systems are often remotely managed using cloud-based control systems. This exposes them to cyberattacks that could result in catastrophic consequences for the electrical grid and the connected infrastructure. This paper takes a step towards advancing understanding of these systems and investigates the effects of cyberattacks targeting them. We propose a reference model for an electrical grid cloud-controlled load-balancing system connected to remote battery energy storage systems. The reference model is evaluated from a cybersecurity perspective by implementing and simulating various cyberattacks. The results reveal the system's attack surface and demonstrate the impact of cyberattacks that can criticaly threaten the security and stability of the electrical grid.