This asset groups a) communications services of the IEC61850 family oriented to the automation of electrical networks, b) tools aimed at offering an advanced level of security in communications to digital devices (digital certificate manager), c) solutions for remote control of the cybersecurity in electricity grids, and d) a blockchain platform that allows the agile implementation of proofs of concept in order to identify business opportunities in the energy sector.
Electricity grid cybersecurity
Integration of distributed generation and storage. Microgrids
Blockchain-based digital platform
The digital platform is made up of different components that are implemented using different technologies, but which together cover the entire process: from the reception of the data from energy environments, followed by the securitization of data and execution of digital contracts, to the visualization of traceable and verifiable results.
The platform is deployed on a high-performance server infrastructure that can meet the demanding requirements of the blockchain technology.
Certificate management demonstrator for IoT devices
The demonstrator, which is located at the IKERLAN headquarters, is able to manage and use the PKI infrastructure through a Web interface.
IEC61850 standard communications services
Communication services stack with various protocols (RESTful, SOAP...), including the mapping of the IEC 61850 services. It consists of a source code, which can be compiled on different hardware, and is organized as a set of reusable libraries for multiple applications. It enables the deployment of the services defined in the IEC61850 standard and its derivatives, which were initially defined for the automation of substations, monitoring, control and automation scenarios, especially in those with an electrical nature (in addition to substations, in wind farms, photovoltaics…).
iPKI
Infrastructure for the management of digital certificates for the implementation of strong authentication mechanisms, electronic signature and data encryption in the energy sector. This infrastructure is deployed in a controlled environment, where both physical (restricted and controlled physical access) and logical security measures (functions virtualization, need-based segmentation) have been applied to ensure its reliability.
Remote monitoring system for cybersecurity in power grids
This asset provides the ability to remotely monitor the cybersecurity status of digital assets on a power grid. Its main objective is the early detection of possible vulnerabilities in the network due to bad configurations, implementation failures or external attacks to the network. The analysis of vulnerabilities in digital assets is flexible. This means that it is possible to adapt it to the specific characteristics and functionalities of each device, to its implementation environment, as well as to the regulations in force at any time.
Presentation of blockchain demonstrators for different use cases.
Analysis of the suitability of the blockchain technology and proofs of concept development.
Technology transfer through the development of blockchain projects.
Presentation of connectivity demonstrators at Windmill, inverter..., farm node/edge node and Control Center/Cloud level based on the most widely used IIoT communication protocols, as well as on the technical interoperability APIs of the most relevant functional modules in the field of renewables in Smart Grid.
Education, Training and Experimentation on the potential of the Reference Architecture in order to facilitate the process of creating infrastructures/platforms in the field of Smart Grids. Aspects related to the implementation of the most relevant communication protocols (OPC-UA, SOAP, REST, MQTT and CoAP), and with the integration through APIs (technical interoperability) of the most recurrent functional modules: IIoT nodes, edge computing and its connection with public or On-Premise Cloud in a secure way will be considered.
Collecting and sending information related to the safety of power grid devices to the analysis platform.
Analysis of PKI suitability and agile Proof of Concept development.
Technology transfer (collaboration with the client) in the field of IIoT connectivity aimed at the implementation of nodes, infrastructures/platforms oriented to Smart Grids. Focused on IIoT-Edge-Cloud Node connectivity aspects.
Presentation of PKI demonstrators for different use cases.
Tools for comprehensible visualization of PKI status for power grid devices.
Technology transfer in Smart Grid scenarios through the development of monitoring, control and automation projects, in the context of Electricity Distribution. It complements the Connectivity service with the selection and integration via APIs of the software components required by the intended use cases.
Technology transfer through the development of projects based on PKI infrastructures for IoT devices.
Visualization of the cybersecurity status from the results that are produced from the data that is reported by grid devices
Processing and analysis of the information that is received from the network devices. Generation of reports and alerts.