DOE to award $28 mln to improve cybersecurity and protect energy infrastructure

The U.S. Department of Energy will award up to $28 million for the research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) of technologies to improve cybersecurity and the resilience of the country’s energy infrastructure.

The funding – provided by the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response’s (CESER) Cybersecurity for Energy Delivery Systems (CEDS) Division – will be used for technologies that prevent and mitigate cyber attacks on critical energy infrastructure such as the electric grid and oil and natural gas infrastructure.

Groups receiving grants will be tasked with redesigning the current architecture so that attacks can be detected and systems can adapt to continue functioning without disruption.

“Protecting the nation’s energy delivery systems from cyber threats is a top national priority,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said. “These awards will spur the next level of innovation needed to advance cyber resilience, ensuring that the nation’s critical energy infrastructure can withstand potential cyber attacks while also still keeping the lights on.”

Each awarded project will advance the strategy articulated in the DOE’s Multiyear Plan for Energy Sector Cybersecurity. The plan calls for the reduction of cyber risks by pursuing activities that are coordinated with other DOE offices, federal agencies, energy owners and operators, and key energy stakeholders.

Further, 11 projects will be awarded with award amounts to be determined. To date, the CEDS program has led to the development of 35 technologies to improve the energy sector.