DOE invests $8M into energy system resilience efforts

A total of $8 million will spur efforts to enhance reliability and adaptability of the United States energy infrastructure, under the Cybersecurity for Energy Delivery Systems (CEDS) program.

The program is led by the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) — a part of the Department of Energy (DOE). Its goal is to encourage the development of new technologies for widespread adoption, to reduce the damage cyber attacks or other issues could cause the greater grid. Electricity generation, transmission, and distribution, along with the production, refinement, storage, and distribution of oil and gas are all under the microscope with this program.

As dictated by the National Cyber Strategy, the focus will be on developing means of real-time intrusion detection, self-healing energy delivery control systems and innovative technologies that boost energy sector cybersecurity.

“The Department of Energy is committed to securing our Nation’s energy infrastructure against all threats, both natural and manmade,” Mark Menezes, Under Secretary of Energy, said. “Through this funding opportunity, we will accelerate efforts to strengthen our Nation’s energy infrastructure against cyberattacks and ensure a more secure, resilient, and reliable energy delivery system.”

Last year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reported Russian hackers had breached numerous electric utilities, gaining them the ability to harm critical infrastructure. With cyber attacks and similar incidents increasing annually, efforts like this are actively trying to combat threats to essential energy delivery functions.