The incorporation of communication technology with Smart Grid (SG) is proposed as an optimal solution to fulfill the requirements of the modern power system. A smart grid integrates multiple energy sources or microgrids and is supported by an extensive control and communication network using the Internet of Things (IoT) for a carbon-free, more reliable, and intelligent energy system. Along with many benefits, the system faces novel security challenges, data management, integration, and interoperability challenges. The advanced control and communication network in the smart grid is susceptible to cyber and cyber-physical threats. A lot of research has been done to improve the cyber security of the smart grid. This review aims to provide an overview of the types of cyber security threats present for smart grids with an insight into strategies to overcome the challenges. As the selection of techniques and technologies may vary according to the threats faced, therefore the adoption of researched methods is compared and discussed. As cyber-security is the greatest challenge in smart grid implementation, this review is beneficial during the planning and operation of smart grids for enhanced security.

Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) play a significant role in reducing carbon emissions and improving the power system, nonetheless, maintaining the stability of the system parameters under faulty conditions is a major challenge. To minimize fault duration and maximize the system’s fault tolerance capability while maintaining affordability and being environment friendly, DERs supported by storage units are used in parallel with the main grid which offers promising results. This paper proposes the utilization of DERs as the primary source while the main grid shares the peak load. The paper also discusses the application of Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) to record current and voltage values. PMUs are used to detect the fault in its early stage and communicate to the central controller to shift the load on storage units and isolate fault locations. The operation is controlled at two levels, that is at the load end and the junction point of the grid and DER. Any anomaly detected by PMUs is tested for the fault location, where faults are then controlled and minimized using the proposed method while keeping economic factors under consideration. The system is tested in light of results from mathematical modeling and design simulation which show very low latency time against demand response and quick isolation of fault location. A comparison with existing and previous works also shows the promising performance of the proposed fault-tolerant power system using PMUs.

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