Cybersecurity challenges in renewable-dominated power grids addressing vulnerabilities and resilience strategies

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Authors: Ahmed S. Musleh, Guo Chen, B Liu, Simone Fan, Ahmed Al‐Durra, S.M. Muyeen, Zhao Yang Dong, Mir Nahidul Ambia, Blazhe Gjorgiev, Shengyu Tao, Huadong Mo
Cited by: 7
References: 13

Abstract

The global transition to renewable-dominated power systems is reshaping grid operation while introducing new cybersecurity risks. As renewable technologies scale and rely on digital control and communication platforms, the cyberattack surface expands and exposes critical vulnerabilities. Here, we report an assessment of cybersecurity threats in renewable-dominated grids by examining representative attack scenarios, including false data injection into power control, denial of service on distributed energy resources and cloud platforms, inverter parameter manipulation, and GPS time synchronization spoofing. These threats are shown to compromise system stability, reliability, and resilience. We further evaluate current industrial practices, regulatory frameworks, and emerging standards in addressing these risks. We find that existing approaches remain insufficient for the complexity of renewable-dominated systems. We conclude by identifying the root causes of past failures and outlining research and policy directions to strengthen cyber resilience in future power systems.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Smart Grid Security and Resilience Infrastructure Resilience and Vulnerability Analysis Power System Optimization and Stability

Publication details

Journal / source
Cell Reports Physical Science
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Volume
7
Issue
5
Pages
103261–103261
Publication date
23 April 2026
Language
EN