Impact of Denial-of-Service Cyberattacks on Hydrogen Refueling Stations in An Integrated Transportation and Electric Power System

Expanding hydrogen stations is vital for green energy and reducing carbon emissions, but their high costs require efficient operation. Integrating these stations with transportation and power systems can help use excess renewable energy effectively, generate profits, and provide grid services. However, this integration involves sharing sensitive data with the Energy Management System (EMS), which can expose the system to cyberattacks, potentially affecting financial stability and slowing down growth. This paper examines the impact of Denial-of-Service (DoS) cyberattacks on the profitability of hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs). First, the effect of DoS on each critical information signal is analyzed. Based on the signals' vulnerability to cyberattacks, a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) model is developed to target multiple signals simultaneously, amplifying financial losses for the stations. The results show that a DoS attack on a single signal of hydrogen tank State of Charge (SOC), hydrogen station demand, and grid services signals can cause a damage of 4-5%, 9-10.5%, and 29% respectively, while a DDoS attack over local station measurements can reduce revenue up to 17%. In both cases, the profitability of the hydrogen station falls below the acceptable margin.