Cyber-Physical Power System Implementation using HYPERSIM and EXata to Examine the Impact of Cyber-Attack on Microgrid Controller

This paper presents a software-in-the-loop (SIL) co-simulation of a cyber-physical power system (CPPS) incorporating a microgrid, controllers, and its communication infrastructure. To test various modes of operation, a solar PV, battery, combined heat power (CHP) generation-based microgrid, and its control system are modelled for electromagnetic transient (EMT) simulation using HYPERSIM software. The International Electrotechnical Commission’s (IEC) 61850 protocol is used for developing the microgrid’s communication architecture, which improves the controllability of the microgrid. This form of communication network is also augmented with EXataCPS for the sole purpose of facilitating data manipulation. EXata is capable of implementing various kinds of cyber-attacks, such as data packet modification, denial of service (D.o.S.), man in the middle, etc., to exploit the vulnerability of microgrid communication. In this paper, EXata is employed to launch a delayed cyber-attack on data communicated from the microgrid controller to microgrid IEDs and the SCADA system to monitor the effect of the disturbance on the microgrid. The CPPS is executed in a Real-Time Simulator, and the results are recorded and reviewed to confirm the study’s findings.