Guardians of the Grid: Cyber-Secure Microgrids and the Future of Energy Resilience

The Crucial Role of Cyber-Resilient Microgrids

The vulnerability of major metropolitan power grids to natural disasters has become a pressing concern, but mother nature isn’t the only thing threatening our grid these days. As society becomes more digitized, critical infrastructure faces increased exposure to cyber threats. And quite simply, there isn’t enough power to go around so accessing new power is increasingly becoming a roadblock for data centers. One solution gaining traction is microgrids, which offer access to reliable power and ongoing electrical resilience for businesses and the government alike.

As our world becomes increasingly digitized, critical infrastructure is more exposed than ever before. Security experts describe a cyber-attack against the power grid as a form of asymmetrical warfare—a means of destroying a society by cutting off the delivery of food, water, healthcare, commerce, and communications. In essence, contemporary economies run on electricity, and without it, they seize up. It’s vital to implement every security measure possible to prevent disruptions that could leave people without essential resources. What many don’t realize is microgrids offer protection against cyberattacks and provide a promising avenue for enhancing grid security

As a source of onsite power generation during outages, microgrids ensure facilities and operations remain functional, but they can also help stabilize the grid during periods of grid stress. With their ability to operate independently from the main grid (islanding), microgrids can not only ensure continuous protection against cyber threats but also offer a flexible and efficient solution for the evolving energy landscape. And in the case of extended outages, microgrids powered by natural gas ensure an additional layer of reliability when compared to potential delays or shortages of diesel fuel delivery. Natural gas is abundant, relatively clean-burning, and domestically sourced, making it a reliable option for energy generation.

The double-edged sword of AI and grid security

The emergence of AI has ushered in a new era for grid security, presenting a blend of promise and peril. On one hand, AI technologies offer a powerful toolset for bolstering grid resilience. Predictive analytics, powered by machine learning algorithms, can sift through vast troves of data from the grid and connected devices to preemptively detect and thwart potential threats. This proactive approach enables faster response times and more effective mitigation strategies in the face of cyberattacks or physical breaches.

Yet, the widespread adoption of AI also introduces new cybersecurity risks. As AI systems become increasingly interconnected and autonomous, they create avenues for malicious actors to exploit vulnerabilities. Adversarial attacks targeting AI models or data manipulation techniques pose a threat to the integrity of security solutions, potentially leading to false alarms or compromised decision-making. Moreover, concerns about algorithmic bias and transparency raise questions about the ethical implications of relying on AI for critical grid operations. While AI holds immense potential for advancing grid security, its deployment must be accompanied by both robust cybersecurity measures and electrical resiliency provided by natural gas microgrids. By embracing a comprehensive approach that prioritizes both innovation and risk mitigation, the industry can navigate the evolving threat landscape and safeguard critical infrastructure for future generations.

Data center microgrids as a blueprint for expanded infrastructure protection

The recent surge in AI has only intensified the skyrocketing growth and requirements of data centers. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, the increased number of servers running on high-performance chips in an AI data center can result in a power draw of 50 kilowatts or more per rack, compared with roughly 8-14 kilowatts per rack in a conventional data center.  As a result, power demand will continue to increase parallel to the AI landscape. With US data center consumption likely to go from 17 GW in 2022 to upwards of 35 GW by 2030, integrated microgrid systems are an ideal solution to fully support the additional infrastructure and increased energy requirements for these data centers.

And since microgrids serve as a blueprint for the expanded protection of critical infrastructure, their practical application for data centers provides a compelling model for enhancing resilience and reliability for all businesses and communities. These sophisticated energy systems offer valuable insights into the deployment of microgrids as decentralized energy generation and distribution, reducing vulnerabilities associated with centralized grids.

By decentralizing energy generation and incorporating resilient technologies, the data center microgrid model can be a guiding framework for bolstering the overall security and resilience of critical infrastructure. But ultimately, the power of public-private collaboration emerges as a crucial component in the collective effort to build cyber-secure microgrids that ensure the resilience and reliability of our critical grid infrastructure.

Leveraging public-private collaboration to mitigate cyber risk

The ongoing collaboration between public-private partnerships such as government agencies, utility companies, energy companies and technology providers allow for the sharing of information, resources and expertise. This collective effort helps design effective strategies to protect critical grid infrastructure from threats. Incorporating natural gas into microgrid systems not only diversifies the energy mix but also provides a flexible and efficient solution for meeting energy demands. Advanced technologies can be leveraged to monitor and control natural gas-powered microgrids, enhancing their ability to withstand cyber threats. Additionally, the deployment of microgrids powered by natural gas aligns with efforts to reduce reliance on centralized grids, thereby mitigating vulnerabilities associated with large-scale infrastructure.

While there is no shortcut to effective cybersecurity, advanced microgrids can compensate for the loss of one or more control points. A cybersecure microgrid enables monitoring of internal communications and system processes to identify abnormal events during operations. This includes real-time alerts and the creation of security audit logs for operator awareness of the system’s security posture, its level of availability, and potential anomalies, all without affecting the microgrid’s operation. For true resiliency, cybersecurity protections must be built into the microgrid from its inception.

As the energy landscape continues to evolve, embracing natural gas-powered microgrids represents a proactive step towards building a more resilient and secure grid infrastructure. By harnessing the power of natural gas alongside advanced technologies and collaborative partnerships, we can mitigate the risks posed by cyberattacks and other disruptive forces, ensuring a reliable and sustainable energy future for generations to come.

About the Author

Brian Jabeck is VP of Data Centers, Enchanted Rock.  He has helped many of the world’s largest technology companies and energy providers find solutions to their power generation needs. In his current position Brian works with data center owners to leverage natural gas/RNG fueled dual purpose resiliency microgrids to deliver a backup power solution that also aligns with sustainability goals. Before joining Enchanted Rock in 2021, Brian worked for Caterpillar Inc. and Power Solutions International Inc. supporting standby power generation markets in North America and Europe. Brian’s experiences include working with most of the global generator set manufacturers on diesel and natural gas solutions, as well as supporting key data center, contractor, and design engineering organizations.

Brian can be reached online at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-jabeck/ and at https://enchantedrock.com/