Dynamic Load Altering Attack Against Inverter-Based Resources

This paper investigates the implementation of Dynamic Load Altering Attack (DLAA) on Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs), a critical aspect of modern power systems with increasing penetration of renewable energy. A load altering attack is a cyberphysical attack targeting demand response and demand-side management programs. It aims at destabilizing the grid through load variations based on grid frequency. While DLAAs have been successfully executed on synchronous generator-based power systems, this study uniquely demonstrates their impact on inverter-based generation resources. We analyze the impact of DLAA on droop-enabled, virtual synchronous machine-based inverters. Small signal models are developed to calculate analytically the amount of load needed to be hacked by the attacker to launch a successful DLAA. The accuracy of these models is validated by comparing the predicted response with the actual system response. The simulation results are presented for a single IBR-load system and a 6-bus test system. The simulation models were constructed and tested in MATLAB/Simulink, validating the efficacy of the proposed analysis.