Abstract of Research

The power system as critical infrastructure lays in the fact that it is increasingly essential for functioning of, other critical infrastructures (ICT, hospitals, etc.).  Existing complexity has been proved as challenge in order to keep high reliability and safety of the power system, especially in the context of smart cities, incorporating smart grids, deregulated energy markets and high utilization of distributed energy sources. Security challenges in this context are extremely high.

Research focus in this project is on establishment of a simulation platform where different threats to the future power system can be investigated. The major goal is to simplify the process of finding better solutions for the optimal system design and sufficient control.  This research is based on utilization of state-of-the-art concepts and tools, using real systems operating conditions as inputs, as well as planned developments of the grid in light of global policy changes regarding sustainable development.

Major Objectives

• Putting future SCADA systems in context of smart cities and smart grids;

• Studying and assessing the current status of SCADA deployment (emphases on Italy and Croatia);

• Assessing priorities in future SCADA testbed architecture specification and development;

• Proposing a novel architecture for SCADA interaction modeling, based on cooperative agent negotiation, to bridge model with increased reliability and security;

• Formally and empirically prove the improvements in security, safety and resilience of this architecture over the ones commonly used;

• Developing a common understanding of industrial needs and requirements regarding the security of control systems and the related standardization, accompanied by a raising awareness program reaching all end-users;

• Identifying and disseminating best practice, possibly in a joint endeavor between manufacturers and end users, resulting in a increased capability and defined technology taxonomy of security solutions;

• Development and deployment a SCADA testbed platform for analysis of emergent phenomena in power systems;

• Interfacing with similar projects, focusing on smart grids and smart cities.

Overview of Achievements since the Start of the Project until 10 Oct. 2011

• SCADA-NG Research laboratory is in active use and further development by the project staff;

• Project team and young researchers have selected specific problems to be investigated in details;

• Implementation of functional specification is in progress;

• Implementation of the risk and reliability assessment of the power grid with SCADA is defined and ready for testing;

• Specific simulation models in different platforms are further upgraded and in the process of interactive integration;

• Presentation and publication of project result is continuous;

• Five young researchers stipendiary and five volunteer student researchers have been continuously involved in the project related work;

• SCADA-NG NATO project is major ground base for related student seminars and projects.

Milestones for the Next Six Months

• Integrating different modeling segments together into SCADA testbed simulator:

• Renewable energy generation,
• Smart city power system,
• Reliability and risk assessment;

• Publication of at least 2 conference papers;
• Smart metering system within a building functioning on premises of FER (University of Zagreb);
• Renewable energy system functioning at premises of FER;
• First complete observations on a real-life smart building functionality;
• Scaling accomplished results with existing SCADA systems in the Croatian Utility Company (HEP).

Implementation of results

Project results are continuously implemented at the research/education laboratory at the Faculty of electrical engineering and computing at the University of Zagreb.

General overview

• SCADA-NG Research laboratory is in active use and further development by the project staff;
• Functional specification for a model smart energy system finalized, publicized and is being implemented in current work;
• Research staff and young researchers individual tasks and tools defined, active mobilization towards deliverables (software models being built);
• Research papers production;

• 3 published conference paper
• 1 conference paper under review 
• 1 working paper ready for publishing at select conference
• 2 research papers under preparation

• Project website continuously updated;
• SCADA-NG NATO project maintains its position as a topic for related student seminars, projects, and other activities;
• Updated research plan and simulation testbed concept has been developed;

Full 3rd progress report can be downloaded here.