University of Arkansas Leads Collaborative Effort to Enhance Cybersecurity in Solar Inverters

From left, Anna Corbitt, Wesley Schwartz, Chris Farnell, Alan Mantooth, and Alec Broomfield at the field test location for the SETO project.
Ruby McCloskey

From left, Anna Corbitt, Wesley Schwartz, Chris Farnell, Alan Mantooth, and Alec Broomfield at the field test location for the SETO project.

In an initiative led by the University of Arkansas, several universities, laboratories and industry partners joined forces under the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Office project. The project aims to fortify the cybersecurity measures of solar inverters, which are crucial components in solar energy systems.

Solar inverters are pivotal in converting the direct current (DC) generated by solar panels into alternating current (AC) for use in households and the energy grid. However, as the solar energy landscape evolves, so do associated cybersecurity threats.

The project unfolded with a groundbreaking approach. Researchers dismantled conventional commercial solar inverters, stripping away their existing controls and technology. Subsequently, they integrated their partners' work and implemented custom-designed controls infused with multiple layers of cybersecurity protocols.

Field testing became the crucial test for the efficacy of the revamped solar inverters. The UA Power Group team ventured into solar farms, subjecting the modified inverters to real-world conditions. The objective was clear: to validate and demonstrate the viability of the enhanced cybersecurity measures in practical settings.

As the project advances, it holds the promise of not only fortifying the cybersecurity resilience of solar inverters but also contributing to the broader landscape of renewable energy security. With innovation and collaboration at its core, the initiative is a beacon of progress in ensuring a secure and sustainable energy future.

The collaborative partners for this project were the University of Georgia, Texas A&M Kingsville, University of Illinois Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, General Electric Research, Ozarks Electric, and Today's Power Inc.

Contacts

Karin Alvarado, project/program specialist in marketing, communication and event management
Department of Electrical Engineering
479-575-4958, karina@uark.edu

Headlines

Discover RED: Extending Touch

The latest Discover RED explores how researchers at the U of A's I³R are developing a novel technology that uses electrical stimulation of the nervous system to extend the sense of touch to virtual or extended realities.

Celebrate Latine/Hispanic Heritage Month at the University of Arkansas

The Central American Student Alliance is hosting a professional development panel and workshop. For more updates with this event, follow along with the Central American Student Alliance on Instagram.

Honors Passport Course to Examine Social, Political and Economic Domains of Brazil in June 2025

Led by associate professor Caree Banton and adjunct lecturer Edvan Brito, the course will offer a thorough examination of the foundational sociocultural elements underpinning Brazilian society.

Grant of $7 Million to Support Effort to Improve Grape Disease Resistance, Quality

The USDA-NIFA grant will support a 32-person research team at 12 institutions co-directed by Renee Threlfall and Margaret Worthington of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.

International Studies and World Languages Alumna Adoette Vaughan Pursues a Master's in Italian

After teaching English in Italy as part of SITE Internship, Vaughn is pursuing her master's degree in Italian through Middlebury College and aims to study at Middlebury's Florence campus.

News Daily