Evaluating Cybersecurity Risks of Bulgaria’s Energy Sector: Focus on PV and HVAC-R
Photovoltaics with energy storage are the current trend in solar energy. Hybrid inverters are the backbone of low-power installations of this type. If a single installation is compromised, there are no significant security concerns. However, multiple devices can be targeted simultaneously. Taking in...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/12/6672 |
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| author | Vultchan Gueorgiev Valentin Totev Plamen Tsankov Stoyan Stoyanov |
| author_facet | Vultchan Gueorgiev Valentin Totev Plamen Tsankov Stoyan Stoyanov |
| author_sort | Vultchan Gueorgiev |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Photovoltaics with energy storage are the current trend in solar energy. Hybrid inverters are the backbone of low-power installations of this type. If a single installation is compromised, there are no significant security concerns. However, multiple devices can be targeted simultaneously. Taking into account their increasing share in the energy mix, distributed cyber-attacks against these devices can threaten grid stability. The Bulgarian electric power system has been analyzed in order to determine its development which is in line with EU-wide trends. It can be concluded that hybrid inverters are expected to grow rapidly in number and in installed power. The vulnerability of hybrid inverters to cyber-attacks has been analyzed, and the possible consequences for the energy system have been identified. The technology allows it to be used as a hybrid means of influence, and this aspect is poorly addressed in existing cybersecurity regulations. A risk assessment has been made, based on which measures to improve security have been proposed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-29e6627e795748d38cddbea5b78ee97f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-29e6627e795748d38cddbea5b78ee97f2025-08-20T03:27:26ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-06-011512667210.3390/app15126672Evaluating Cybersecurity Risks of Bulgaria’s Energy Sector: Focus on PV and HVAC-RVultchan Gueorgiev0Valentin Totev1Plamen Tsankov2Stoyan Stoyanov3Department of Electrical Supply, Electrical Equipment and Electrical Transport, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Sofia, 1000 Sofia, BulgariaDepartment of Electrical Supply, Electrical Equipment and Electrical Transport, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Sofia, 1000 Sofia, BulgariaDepartment of Electric Power Distribution and Electrical Equipment, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, Technical University of Gabrovo, 5300 Gabrovo, BulgariaDepartment of Electrical Supply, Electrical Equipment and Electrical Transport, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Sofia, 1000 Sofia, BulgariaPhotovoltaics with energy storage are the current trend in solar energy. Hybrid inverters are the backbone of low-power installations of this type. If a single installation is compromised, there are no significant security concerns. However, multiple devices can be targeted simultaneously. Taking into account their increasing share in the energy mix, distributed cyber-attacks against these devices can threaten grid stability. The Bulgarian electric power system has been analyzed in order to determine its development which is in line with EU-wide trends. It can be concluded that hybrid inverters are expected to grow rapidly in number and in installed power. The vulnerability of hybrid inverters to cyber-attacks has been analyzed, and the possible consequences for the energy system have been identified. The technology allows it to be used as a hybrid means of influence, and this aspect is poorly addressed in existing cybersecurity regulations. A risk assessment has been made, based on which measures to improve security have been proposed.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/12/6672cybersecurityelectric power systemHVAC-Rphotovoltaicsrenewable energy sources |
| spellingShingle | Vultchan Gueorgiev Valentin Totev Plamen Tsankov Stoyan Stoyanov Evaluating Cybersecurity Risks of Bulgaria’s Energy Sector: Focus on PV and HVAC-R Applied Sciences cybersecurity electric power system HVAC-R photovoltaics renewable energy sources |
| title | Evaluating Cybersecurity Risks of Bulgaria’s Energy Sector: Focus on PV and HVAC-R |
| title_full | Evaluating Cybersecurity Risks of Bulgaria’s Energy Sector: Focus on PV and HVAC-R |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating Cybersecurity Risks of Bulgaria’s Energy Sector: Focus on PV and HVAC-R |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating Cybersecurity Risks of Bulgaria’s Energy Sector: Focus on PV and HVAC-R |
| title_short | Evaluating Cybersecurity Risks of Bulgaria’s Energy Sector: Focus on PV and HVAC-R |
| title_sort | evaluating cybersecurity risks of bulgaria s energy sector focus on pv and hvac r |
| topic | cybersecurity electric power system HVAC-R photovoltaics renewable energy sources |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/12/6672 |
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