Smart Grid Cyber Security for Europe

This paper focuses on the energy security implications of the electricity networks of the future. Electricity plays a pivotal, albeit often understated, role in energy security. In Europe, environmental and economic considerations are driving a revolution in power transmission and distribution. Specifically of interest to this paper, utility companies are increasingly using information and communication technology (ICT) to increase the efficiency and reliability of the grid, as well as to incorporate smaller-scale sources of intermittent wind and solar power into our electricity supply. The implications of this shift should have a positive effect on Europe¿s climate, competitiveness, and security-of-supply energy policy objectives. However, developments in the field of international security have made clear that increased reliance on ICT within the electricity sector will create new vulnerabilities that may undermine these gains. This paper argues that the European Union (EU) has the opportunity to mitigate these vulnerabilities by virtue of its strengthened regulatory position in the European market, and its record of promoting energy technology research. However, the organization will need to expand its competencies in order to do so. In particular, the EU will need to further develop its potential in the field of cyber security ¿ a topic that is becoming increasingly salient and politicized. This paper concludes by suggesting that the EU would particularly benefit from cooperation with the United States. The country has similar interests and constraints in the area of ¿smart¿ electricity distribution, and strong cyber capabilities that would complement the European programme.

PEARSON Ivan; 

2012-03-13

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

JRC59680

0301-4215,   

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421511004435,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC59680,   

10.1016/j.enpol.2011.05.043,