Researchers Work to Develop AI System to Protect Power Grids 

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology are developing GridLogic, a system designed to enhance the security of electric power grids. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the technology aims to detect "abnormal" and "illogical" control system commands—signals that may indicate insider threats or cyberattacks. The project will leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to differentiate between normal grid operations and potentially harmful actions, providing unprecedented visibility and security.

“The overarching goal for this project is to build a system that monitors a power grid for illogical kinds of operations,” said Trevor Lewis, one of GridLogic’s researchers and a senior research scientist at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), in a release on the research. “That will require understanding the normal state for the power system and all cyber/IT components within the power system, which will allow us to pick out the signal of an insider threat, malicious attacker or remote attacker. We will look for actions taken against the system that are not logical for the system’s current state, based on the conditions surrounding it.”

GridLogic includes partnerships with industry leaders such as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Georgia Power, and industrial software provider AVEVA. The project will incorporate advanced sensors and AI-driven analysis to monitor system behaviors across field devices, networks, and distributed energy resources like solar panels and wind turbines.

The system also addresses the challenge of insider threats, where attackers with privileged access pose significant risks. 

The project, supported by a $3 million grant, will include real-world demonstrations on the Marietta Power distribution system and Georgia Power’s Research Microgrid. The team will also simulate attacks using "red-teaming" techniques to refine the system's ability to detect threats.

The initiative is part of a broader $45 million Department of Energy effort to safeguard energy infrastructure against cyber risks, ensuring reliable and secure operations for critical systems nationwide.