Tag: Cybersecurity

Not Just Technology: The Human Side of Innovation Success – Join the Social Innovation Workshop at ENLIT Europe 2025

Five Horizon projects, CHRONICLE, PROBONO, REEFLEX, eFORT, and FORTESIE, will come together at ENLIT Europe 2025 in Bilbao to host a hybrid Social Innovation Workshop titled “Not Just Technology: The Human Side of Innovation Success.” The session will explore how inclusion, trust, and citizen engagement define whether innovation succeeds – both onsite and online.

Introduction

Behind every smart grid, connected building, or renewable system lies a simple truth: technology alone doesn’t drive change – people do!

As Europe accelerates its green and digital transition, the role of social innovation has become more critical than ever. Without public trust, citizen participation, and inclusive design, even the most advanced technologies risk falling short of their potential.

Recognising this, five Horizon Europe projects, CHRONICLE, PROBONO, REEFLEX, eFORT, and FORTESIE, are joining forces at ENLIT Europe 2025 in Bilbao to host a joint Social Innovation Workshop titled “Not Just Technology: The Human Side of Innovation Success.”

Organised by Smart Innovation Norway, the event will take place on 19 November 2025 (10:00–12:00, Room 05.08+05.09, and online via Microsoft Teams). It invites researchers, industry experts, policymakers, and citizens to experience how human factors,  from trust and fairness to communication and behaviour, determine whether innovation truly works in real life.

Objective & Approach

The Social Innovation Workshop aims to bridge the gap between technological excellence and social acceptance. Designed as a truly hybrid experience, it ensures equal participation for both onsite and online audiences.

Instead of traditional slides or lectures, the workshop uses interactive storytelling and dialogue. Participants will explore real-life dilemmas inspired by the five Horizon projects, touching on topics such as data ethics, inclusivity, workforce adaptation, and public trust.

One of the key interactive elements, inspired by Placemaking Maptivity, will transform technical project results into accessible, human-centred scenarios. Participants will discuss and “map” these cases according to social impact and feasibility, learning how innovation decisions affect communities, equity, and resilience.

Whether sitting in Bilbao or joining virtually, every participant will play a role in shaping the discussion, sharing insights, reflecting on values, and contributing to a shared vision of people-centred innovation.

What to Expect from the Workshop

  • CHRONICLE – End-User: Friend or Foe?: CHRONICLE will challenge the assumption that digitalisation automatically improves user experience. By examining how occupants interact with smart building and energy systems, the project highlights that real behaviour often defies design expectations. Participants will explore how feedback loops, empathy, and co-creation can make digital transformation more meaningful and accepted
  • FORTESIE – One Size Doesn’t Fit All: FORTESIE will explore how energy renovation and efficiency measures can only succeed when they reflect social diversity. Through examples from local communities, the project demonstrates that engagement is not a one-size-fits-all process, it must be tailored, inclusive, and culturally relevant. The discussion will focus on how to motivate participation across generations and socio-economic groups.
  • PROBONO – Why Should We Care About Jim Ryan?: PROBONO will bring storytelling to the forefront with the case of Jim Ryan, a social housing manager in Dublin. His everyday challenges managing buildings and residents show how innovation must account for maintenance realities, community relationships, and lived experience. The story reminds participants that sustainability is not just about technology, it’s about the people maintaining it.
  • REEFLEX – Understanding Citizens’ Needs for Flexibility: REEFLEX will share lessons from citizen engagement around flexibility markets and smart energy systems. Participants will discuss how perceptions of fairness, clarity, and local benefit shape public trust in new energy models. The project’s findings reveal that flexibility is not just technical, it’s deeply social, requiring transparency and cooperation.
  • eFORT – Invisible Systems, Visible Impact: eFORT will take participants into the unseen world of cybersecurity and grid resilience. The session will highlight how human understanding is crucial for the success of even the most advanced technical systems. Participants will explore how clear communication, transparency, and stakeholder engagement can turn complex resilience measures into something relatable and trusted by citizens.

Together, these five perspectives will demonstrate that innovation success depends not only on what we build but on how we involve people in building it.

Mapping Innovation Together: An Interactive Session with Placemaking Maptivity

The interactive session will also feature Placemaking Maptivity, a collaborative tool originally developed within the PROBONO project. Designed to support sustainable urban planning and citizen engagement, it enables participants to visualise how different social, spatial, and technical factors interact within real environments. Through guided mapping and dialogue, Maptivity helps identify opportunities, challenges, and trade-offs linked to innovation implementation. In this workshop, an extended version of the tool will include perspectives from all five projects and invite both onsite and online participants to collaborate in real time. Whether contributing from Bilbao or joining via Microsoft Teams, everyone will take part in shaping shared maps and reflections that connect innovation results to social impact, equity, and community acceptance.

Why Attend: In Person or Online

The Social Innovation Workshop offers a rare opportunity to explore the human side of Europe’s innovation landscape in a collaborative, creative format.

Participants will:

  • Experience a dynamic, discussion-based session connecting social innovation with real-world research.
  • Engage directly with five Horizon Europe projects addressing buildings, energy, and digital resilience.
  • Learn how behavioural insights, participatory design, and storytelling can strengthen technology adoption.
  • Network with peers at ENLIT and exchange reflections online in a live, hybrid dialogue.

Whether joining from Bilbao’s conference halls or tuning in from another country, all participants will contribute equally, sharing experiences, voting on scenarios, and shaping conclusions together.

Conclusion

The Social Innovation Workshop at ENLIT Europe 2025 will challenge the idea that innovation success is purely technical. It will show that inclusion, fairness, and trust are the real foundations of progress.

Join us in Bilbao or online for a hands-on, people-centred conversation on how Europe’s leading projects are redefining what innovation means – from grids and buildings to communities and lives.

To learn more about Social Innovation workshop and register: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/1ad5bb31-f1a6-47b4-a24c-8416680720c4@517c569c-dd6b-48c6-9d74-7e1db94fef56

Contact us

contact@efort-project.eu 

Follow us on:

From Threat Classification to Dynamic Risk Assessment: How eFORT is Building Resilient Power Systems  

Europe’s power systems are facing increasing challenges from both natural and cyber threats. To protect the reliability of the electricity supply, it is not enough to react to crises, operators must anticipate, classify, and dynamically manage risks. 

Within the eFORT project, two key deliverables demonstrate how this process is unfolding: D2.1 (Characterization and Classification of EPES Threats) and D3.1 (Results of Dynamic Risk Assessment Tools). Together, they illustrate how systematic threat identification feeds into innovative tools for continuous resilience management. 

Mapping the Threat Landscape (D2.1) 

D2.1, led by our partner, HYPERTECH, focused on building a consolidated picture of the threats facing Electrical Power and Energy Systems (EPES). Drawing on literature reviews and expert surveys across Europe, the study identified vulnerabilities related to: 

  • Natural hazards such as windstorms and ice storms. 
  • Technological risks including operational faults and DER integration. 
  • Human-caused threats, with a growing emphasis on advanced cyber-attacks. 

The results were prioritised using a risk scoring and heat map approach, which highlighted that cyber threats and distributed energy resources (DERs) are emerging as top concerns, alongside climate-related risks. 

Source: eFORT: Deliverable 2.1 Characterization and classification of EPES threats – Executive summary

Moving from Static to Dynamic Assessment (D3.1) 

Building on these insights, D3.1, led by our partners, RINA-C, FRAUNHOFER and COMILLAS, developed a Dynamic Risk Assessment (DRA) methodology. Where D2.1 provided a static classification of threats, D3.1 created the tools to monitor them continuously. 

The DRA integrates: 

  • Physical risk assessment modules (asset health and hazard exposure). 
  • Power network stability analysis (anticipating cascading failures). 
  • Cyber risk evaluations (including MaDIoT attacks via IoT devices). 

This transition from classification to dynamic monitoring ensures that vulnerabilities are not just identified once but are constantly reassessed in light of evolving threats. 

Without the foundational work of D2.1, the development of the DRA in D3.1 would lack context. The prioritization of threats in D2.1 directly informed the design of the risk modules in D3.1. For example: 

  • The prominence of cyber risks in D2.1 justified the inclusion of a dedicated cyberattack evaluation module in the DRA. 
  • The identification of DER-related vulnerabilities in D2.1 influenced the DRA’s focus on distributed generation and IoT-enabled devices. 
  • The risk heat maps from D2.1 provided a baseline against which dynamic risk monitoring could be benchmarked. 

Why This Matters for Resilience 

eFORT shows how research and innovation work hand in hand: 

  • Research (D2.1) maps the problem space. 
  • Innovation (D3.1) develops tools to address it in real time. 

Together, they provide a pathway for operators to prioritize resources, anticipate disruptions, and safeguard the continuity of Europe’s electricity supply. 

Conclusion 

The outcomes of D2.1 and D3.1 continue to inform other work packages in eFORT, from cascading effects analysis to self-healing grid development and standardization guidelines. Resilience measures are grounded in both empirical evidence and cutting-edge tools. 

The journey from characterizing threats to dynamically assessing them demonstrates eFORT’s holistic vision for grid resilience. Through this interconnected work, the project responds to today’s vulnerabilities and also anticipates tomorrow’s challenges, ensuring Europe’s energy systems remain reliable, secure, and adaptable. 

Contact us

contact@efort-project.eu 

Follow us on:

Press Release: eFORT – Strengthening Europe’s Power Grids for a Resilient and Secure Future

Abstract

The Horizon Europe project eFORT is developing secure-by-design solutions to protect Europe’s power grids against cyberattacks, physical hazards, and extreme weather. With 23 partners across nine countries and four pilot sites, eFORT combines digital twins, AI, blockchain, and intrusion prevention to safeguard citizens, businesses, and operators while supporting Europe’s sustainable energy transition.

eFORT project video

Introduction

Electricity is the backbone of modern society, powering our homes, businesses, hospitals, and digital infrastructure. Yet Europe’s power grids are facing increasing pressure as they become more interconnected and digitised. From cyberattacks to extreme weather events, disruptions can lead to costly blackouts and widespread instability.

The eFORT project, funded under the Horizon Europe programme brings together 23 partners from nine European countries to tackle this challenge. Running from September 2022 to August 2026, eFORT is developing innovative tools to make electricity systems more secure, reliable, and sustainable.

Methodology

At its core, eFORT follows a two-pronged approach:

  1. Identify vulnerabilities in Europe’s transmission and distribution networks.
  2. Deploy cutting-edge solutions that detect, prevent, and mitigate risks in real time.

The project is guided by a secure-by-design philosophy, ensuring that protection is built into systems from the ground up. eFORT’s solutions integrate:

  • Intelligent Platform – a cloud-based hub for vulnerabilities databases, risk assessment, and real-time grid monitoring.
  • Digital Twins – virtual models of the grid, continuously updated with real data.
  • Blockchain – to enhance trust, resilience, and transparency in grid transactions.
  • AI-based Control Algorithms – for dynamic stability and self-healing capabilities.
  • Intrusion Detection & Prevention Systems – to safeguard against cyber threats.
  • SecureBox – a localised defence system that protects assets such as substations and smart meters.

Results & Discussion

Although the project is ongoing, eFORT is already shaping how Europe thinks about grid resilience. Its solutions will be tested and validated across four pilot sites that reflect diverse challenges:

  • Spain – addressing cybersecurity threats in critical network infrastructure.
  • Italy – deploying grid islanding algorithms to secure supply in remote areas.
  • The Netherlands – protecting interconnected networks against cascading failures and European-wide blackouts.
  • Ukraine – enhancing cybersecurity in digital substations to protect critical infrastructure.

These demonstrations will ensure that eFORT’s tools are tested in real-world environments, achieving a technology readiness level (TRL) of 5–6.

Conclusion

As Europe advances towards a low-carbon, digital future, the resilience of its electricity systems is paramount. eFORT provides a pioneering suite of solutions, from AI and blockchain to SecureBoxes and digital twins, to future-proof Europe’s grids.

With its multinational consortium, strong technical foundation, and real-world pilots, eFORT is building the foundation for a more secure, reliable, and sustainable energy system. The results will not only benefit citizens and businesses but also support Europe’s long-term energy and climate goals.

Contact us

contact@efort-project.eu 

Follow us on:

eFORT Intelligent Platform(D4.3) Released: A Practical Step Towards Resilient, Cyber-Secure Grids

The eFORT consortium has delivered D4.3 – eFORT Intelligent Platform, a working demonstrator that helps operators make sense of substation data in real time and react faster to incidents. Built and hosted by the eFORT partner, SIA, on SIACloud, the platform securely ingests field telemetry and intrusion-detection events, normalises them, and provides an operator-friendly view with alerts and supporting tools. From September onwards, the demonstrator will be exercised with real data from the demo sites, allowing partners to validate functionality under realistic conditions and fine-tune where needed.

What the platform does

  • Secure data ingest, one place: Field devices and partner tools send JSON to the platform over HTTPS/VPN using opaque company tokens (no JWT, no signing).
  • Two data families, one view: The platform handles RTU telemetry (equipment status and measurements) and IDS events (e.g., IEC 61850 GOOSE anomalies).
  • Actionable alerts: Entries are flagged as alerts when (i) an engineered threshold is breached, (ii) the anomaly-detection model sees unusual behaviour, or (iii) an incoming IDS event is explicitly marked as alarm. Operators can see what triggered each alert at a glance.
  • Operator-first UI: Clear dashboards, an alerts panel (view/acknowledge), and utilities for islanding-related data management round out day-to-day operations.
  • Interoperability by design: Field data are aligned with IEC 61850 logical-node naming, while security controls follow IEC 62351 recommendations at transport and access layers.

How it fits within effort

The Intelligent Platform is the integration point where different eFORT partners outcomes meet practical operation: RTU telemetry and IDS insights feed a unified backend; operator workflows are exercised through the UI; and Communication & dissemination activities can showcase a tangible, running artefact. Importantly, the build balances demonstrator pragmatism (simple token model, curated feature set) with a clear path to production (role-based access, company scoping, and a cloud architecture that can scale).

What’s new or distinctive

  • Clarity for integrators: The ingest contract is intentionally simple. This keeps partner implementations straightforward while preserving a clean operator experience.
  • Standards in practice: With support from Schneider Electric, the team validated logical-node conventions and security profiles using representative IEC 61850 traffic, helping to ensure a smooth bridge between legacy substation protocols and modern cloud APIs.
  • Environments ready for pilots: SIACloud provides three dedicated environments (LAB, INT, DEMO), reachable via site-to-site VPN. The demonstrator is already deployed and will host upcoming pilot data.

What’s next

From September 2025, the partners will run the demonstrator with real datasets and network conditions from the demo sites. The focus will be on confirming end-to-end ingest, checking alert fidelity, and collecting operator feedback. Minor software/documentation adjustments may follow, but the goal remains the same: a usable, realistic platform that improves grid visibility and response.

Learn more

Deliverable 4.3 is accompanied by a User Manual (operator-focused), an Administrator Manual, a Technical System Documentation and an Integration Manual for API clients. Together, they provide the “how-to” needed for pilots while keeping the demonstrator footprint clear and reproducible.

Contact us

contact@efort-project.eu 

Follow us on:

New Study by CERTH and CIRCE for Power System Resilience Enhancement

The new Conference publication by CERTH and CIRCE, entitled “Power System Resilience Enhancement and Restoration Strategies” has been presented in the 25th International Conference on Environment and Electrical Engineering (EEEIC), held in Chania Crete, in July 2025. 

The motivation behind this research is the fact that the ongoing energy transition promotes digitized and decentralized systems which can be vulnerable to cyber and physical disruptions. Therefore, it is critical to have a plan against such threats. 

In this context, the CERTH-CIRCE cooperative paper, which will also be published IEEE’s website, presents a multi-layered approach for power system resilience enhancement and restoration, comprising:

  • CERTH/ITI’s real-time cyber monitoring tool, eSIEM, which collects data and calculates each asset’s health, also utilizing vulnerabilities databases, hypothesis reports and past mitigations action databases.
  • CIRCE’s oscillation dumping controller, for high voltage applications, which, according to PowerFactory simulations, can eliminate coordinated attacks that would propagate in the entire power system and challenge its stability, even causing a blackout, and
  • CERTH/CPERI’s black start optimization algorithm, in case a blackout happens, for medium voltage applications, considering a back-up generator, photovoltaics, a battery, critical and regular loads. The optimizer is verified with PowerFactory, proving the effectiveness of the proposed solution.

The Figure of the black start process, developed by the first author, Alexandros Kanousis, shows the steps towards power system restoration, with special focus on system stability as well as the optimal utilisation of photovoltaic production.

The authors of the research paper are Alexandros Kanousis, Maria Fotopoulou, Marta Bernal Sancho, Gonzalo Martin Sanchez Escriche, Georgios Rizos, Paschalis Gkaidatzis, Dimitrios Rakopoulos, Dimosthenis Ioannidis, and Dimitrios Tzovaras, and this study is a result of their cooperation in eFORT, especially at the stage of developing the algorithms that underpinned the project’s solutions implementation.

Contact us

contact@efort-project.eu 

Follow us on:

Progress and Next Steps of the Spanish Demo

As part of the eFORT Horizon project —aimed at strengthening cybersecurity and resilience in European power grids— project partner, Cuerva,  is leading a key demonstration in Spain. Throughout this year, the team has made significant progress in the design and preparation of three use cases to be implemented in Cuerva’s real electricity network, with the goal of validating innovative solutions in a practical environment.

Achievements So Far

During the first half of the year, the three main use cases were defined and detailed: UC1: Blockchain Market + Battery Model, UC2: SecureBox + IP + ChatBot y UC3: Risk Analysis Tools. Beyond this initial design phase, intensive technical development work has also taken place, such as the integration of blockchain technology for energy exchange, the so-called SecureBox, to provide cybersecurity and cyber-resilience to the substation, and the adaptation of the network risk analysis tool for the low-voltage grid. All this work lays the foundation for their deployment and integration in the second half of the year.

Use Case 1 – Blockchain Market + Battery Model

This use case explores the integration of blockchain technology for energy exchange through batteries connected to the grid. Additionally, virtual reality glasses will be used to intuitively visualize battery status and access relevant information.

Use Case 2 – SecureBox + IP + ChatBot

In the field of cybersecurity, progress has been made in planning the installation of two key components: a Schneider Electric RTU (Remote Terminal Unit) and the SecureBox developed by CIRCE. The integration plan and location within a real Cuerva substation, the Escúzar substation, have already been defined, with the aim of evaluating system behaviour under real-world cyberattack conditions.

Figure 1: Connection diagram of the RTU + SECUREBOX + connection to CUERVA’s substation. Use Case 2

Use Case 3 – Risk Analysis Tools

The third use case involves applying a risk analysis tool developed by Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Over the past months, Cuerva has worked on modelling a low-voltage network that will allow this tool—originally designed for high-voltage environments—to be used in a new, more distributed context.

Figure 2: diagram in DIgSILENT of part of the Jayena network. We’ll need to do something similar for Use Case 3.

What’s Next?

Cuerva advances in implementing solutions for the Spanish demo in eFORT

With the goal of strengthening the cybersecurity and resilience of European power grids, Cuerva is leading one of the key demonstrations in Spain. During the first half of 2025, the company has worked intensively on designing and preparing three use cases that will be implemented in its real electricity network.

What are the next steps?

With a solid technical foundation already in place, Cuerva’s efforts will now focus on deploying and validating the developed solutions in real operational environments:

  •  Use Case 1 – Blockchain and distributed batteries

A 3D model of the batteries will be deployed, designed for visualization through virtual reality glasses. Additionally, a user API is being finalized to integrate this functionality into control and monitoring platforms, facilitating interoperability of distributed storage with blockchain technology.

  • Use Case 2 – Cybersecurity in substations

Once version 2.0 of the SecureBox is completed by CIRCE, it will be integrated with a Schneider Electric RTU and installed in a Cuerva substation. This phase will be key to evaluating the solution’s behavior against cyberattacks under real operating conditions.

  •  Use Case 3 – Risk analysis tool

Cuerva is finalizing the modeling of a low-voltage network where the risk analysis tool developed by Universidad Pontificia Comillas will be applied. The planned tests will assess its effectiveness in this new distributed environment.

With these upcoming milestones, eFORT and its partners, including Cuerva, reaffirms its commitment to innovation, the digitalisation of the power system, and the development of a more secure and resilient energy infrastructure.

Contact us

contact@efort-project.eu 

Follow us on:

ENISA launches first ever report on the state of cybersecurity in the EU

The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) has just published its biennial report on the state of cybersecurity in the Union, in accordance with Article 18 of the NIS 2 Directive. This comprehensive report offers an evidence-based overview of the EU’s cybersecurity maturity, capabilities, and emerging threats, alongside critical policy recommendations for enhancing cybersecurity across the region. 

The report highlights a substantial level of cyber threats targeting the EU, with vulnerabilities being actively exploited by threat actors. While EU Member States have developed aligned cybersecurity strategies, critical sectors vary significantly in size and criticality, complicating the uniform implementation of security measures. On a positive note, cybersecurity awareness among EU citizens appears to be on the rise, especially among younger generations, though educational disparities remain across Member States.

ENISA’s report identifies four priority areas for policy action: policy implementation, cyber crisis management, supply chain security, and skills development. The report also offers six key policy recommendations::

  • Strengthening support for EU Institutions and National Authorities
  • Revising the EU Blueprint for Cyber Incident Response
  • Cybersecurity Workforce Development
  • Addressing Supply Chain Security
  • Improving Sector-Specific Cybersecurity Maturity
  • Promoting Cybersecurity Awareness and Hygiene 

The eFORT Project pursues objectives in line with ENISA to enhance the security and resilience of critical infrastructure, particularly power grids. The EU report emphasizes the importance of collaboration among EU Member States to strengthen cybersecurity, which represents one of the key pillars of the eFORT project, based on the collaboration of 23 partners from 9 European countries, which work together to modernize and secure the electricity networks.

By aligning with the findings and recommendations of the ENISA report, the eFORT project contributes significantly to the EU’s overall strategy to bolster cybersecurity and ensure a resilient energy supply.

Read the report here

Contact us

contact@efort-project.eu 

Follow us on:

Press release: Introducing the Intelligent Platform API: Enhancing Data Exchange and Interoperability in the eFORT Project

November 2024 – The eFORT project is pleased to announce the ongoing development of its Intelligent Platform API, a key component designed to facilitate seamless data exchange and interoperability among applications and use cases. As the central communication hub for various devices and modules, the API plays a critical role in advancing the project’s mission to enhance energy grid resilience and cybersecurity.

“The eFORT platform sets up the interaction and execution of the resilience applications of the project. It is aligned to the latest EU trends in information sharing and common workspaces, enabling interoperable, demo-oriented end user interfaces” – Jesús Torres, eFORT technical coordinator.

About the Intelligent Platform API

The Intelligent Platform is designed with an interactive and user-friendly interface, allowing grid operators to easily monitor alarms, follow system recommendations, and implement tailored measures and strategies for each scenario. This enhances grid management and decision-making. Serving as the backbone of the eFORT project, the Intelligent Platform API enables real-time data sharing between devices and the platform. By utilizing a standardized and secure communication protocol, the API ensures consistent, reliable, and protected data flow, facilitating seamless integration and operation across all connected components. Key functionalities of the API include:

  • Data Provisioning: Devices and modules utilize the POST /data/create endpoint to send real-time data to the platform. This data, formatted in JSON, contains crucial information such as company identification, device ID, and sensor readings or measurements.
  • Structured Data Format: The API mandates a standardized JSON format for all data transmissions, promoting uniformity and ease of integration across various components.
  • Enhanced Security: To safeguard data integrity and ensure message authenticity, the API employs the HMAC protocol with SHA-256 encryption, providing a robust security layer for all communications. Additional security measures include two-factor authentication (2FA) for portal access, complementary security solutions, and a private virtual network (VPN) to protect the privacy of our partners and their data. Furthermore, the platform ensures that it will never serve as an attack vector for the energy grid, as it only analyzes data and generates alerts, without sending commands that could compromise service.
  • Error Handling and Retrying Mechanism: Devices are equipped to manage errors and retry data transmission in case of connectivity issues, ensuring continuous and reliable data flow.

“During the development of the Intelligent Platform API, we are facing several key challenges. One major hurdle is ensuring seamless interoperability across a wide range of devices and systems with varying protocols, while maintaining a standardized communication format. Another challenge is implementing a robust security framework that could protect sensitive data from potential cyber threats without compromising performance. Finally, we needed to address scalability, as the API must handle high volumes of real-time data efficiently and reliably.” – Guillermo Fernández, SIA group

Additional Considerations for Optimal Performance

The API has been designed with several critical considerations to optimise performance and maintain system stability:

  • Frequency and Timing: Given the high volume of data exchange anticipated, devices must adhere to pre-defined request frequencies to ensure the availability and efficiency of the API.
  • Version Management: The API will evolve alongside project requirements, with updates and supported versions communicated to all partners. To ensure smooth operation, all new versions will be made backwards compatible, allowing existing devices to continue functioning without interruption. Devices should be capable of adapting to these updates seamlessly.
  • User and Entity Management: Management of users, companies, tools, and devices is handled directly through the platform, streamlining administrative processes and reducing the potential for errors.

Key Benefits

The Intelligent Platform API offers numerous advantages for project partners and stakeholders:

  • Standardized Data Exchange: By fostering interoperability between partner-developed modules, the API enhances collaboration and data utilization.
  • Secure Communication: The implementation of advanced security protocols protects data integrity and ensures message authenticity.
  • Real-Time Insights: Continuous data collection and transmission empower the platform with valuable insights, supporting grid optimization and effective energy management.

Future Developments

As the eFORT project progresses, the Intelligent Platform API will be expanded to incorporate additional functionalities beyond the current POST method. This will enable even more comprehensive data management and integration capabilities, further strengthening the project’s impact on energy grid resilience.

Conclusion

The Intelligent Platform API is a cornerstone of the eFORT project, providing a robust and secure communication channel that integrates diverse components with the intelligent platform. By enabling efficient data exchange and fostering interoperability, the API is instrumental in achieving the project’s goals and contributing to a more efficient and reliable energy grid.

Contact us

contact@efort-project.eu 

Follow us on:

Securing Europe’s Energy Future: JB2B Drives Innovation in the eFORT Project

Europe’s energy grid is the backbone of modern society, powering our homes, industries, and economies. Yet, it faces growing threats from cyberattacks and physical disruptions. Ensuring its resilience and reliability is paramount, is where the eFORT project comes in. 

The eFORT project is a beacon of hope in this landscape. It represents a concerted effort to bolster Europe’s energy security and pave the way for a sustainable future. By bringing together leading experts from academia, industry, and government, eFORT is developing innovative solutions to protect and strengthen the energy grid. 

JustB2B: Driving Innovation and Impact 

JB2B plays a pivotal role in transforming eFORT’s research into tangible and scalable solutions. Their core expertise in organisational transformation is being harnessed to bridge the gap between innovation, impact and market reality. Their approach focuses in:  

  • Identifying high-potential areas: Strategic roadmapping ensures project efforts maximise impact by focusing on the most promising avenues for development.
  • Accelerating time-to-market: JB2B develops go-to-market strategies to rapidly translate research into practical solutions addressing industry challenges.
  • Scaling success for a sustainable future: Replication plans are central to eFORT’s success, ensuring successful solutions can be implemented across Europe for a more resilient and sustainable energy grid

Beyond Innovation: Collaboration is Key

eFORT fosters a collaborative ecosystem by connecting stakeholders like energy providers, technology developers, policymakers, and researchers. This open dialogue:

  • Empowers the Industry: Collaboration fosters a culture of innovation, empowering stakeholders to overcome obstacles and achieve shared goals.
  • Accelerates Innovation: By sharing knowledge and expertise, collaboration speeds up the development of solutions for the energy sector’s most pressing challenges.
  • Addresses Common Challenges: Bringing diverse perspectives to the table leads to more comprehensive solutions that address the multifaceted issues facing the energy grid.

Unlocking High-Impact Opportunities

Through a tailored approach, JB2B identifies the project’s most promising avenues for development. This includes areas like:

  • Data Analytics for Grid Optimisation: Leveraging data analytics to improve grid efficiency and ensure reliable power delivery.
  • Cybersecurity Solutions: Developing advanced security measures specifically designed to protect the energy grid from cyberattacks.
  • Energy Storage Systems: Creating innovative storage solutions to optimize grid management and facilitate wider renewable energy integration.

Exploitation Strategies for Impact:

JB2B employs a comprehensive approach to translate eFORT’s research into impactful solutions. Here are some key strategies:

  • IPR Strategy Development: A solid intellectual property rights (IPR) strategy ensures project innovations are protected while facilitating their commercialisation.
  • Exploitation Focus Workshops: These workshops train partners on exploitation concepts, define exploitable results, and develop strategies for replication and commercialisation.
  • Online Webinars: Webinars promote project activities and results, attracting new stakeholders and encouraging the replication of successful solutions across Europe.

JB2B has identified Multiple Paths to Market:

eFORT envisions various ways to turn its research into commercially viable solutions:

  • Licensing: This involves licensing developed technologies to companies seeking to integrate them into their operations.
  • Consultancy Services: eFORT expertise can be translated into valuable consultancy services for industries seeking guidance on implementing solutions like advanced energy storage systems.
  • Carbon Credits and Emission Reduction: By quantifying the positive environmental impact of project solutions, carbon credits can be generated, creating an additional revenue stream.
  • Technology Transfer and Training: Providing training and technology transfer programs allows partners to implement eFORT solutions effectively.
  • Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with companies in related industries offers opportunities for joint ventures, combining resources and expertise for larger-scale implementation.

The Road Ahead:

The eFORT project is well on its way to delivering transformative solutions for Europe’s energy sector. By focusing on collaboration, identifying high-impact areas, and employing a multifaceted exploitation strategy, the project aims to create a more sustainable, resilient, and efficient energy future for generations to come.

Join the Movement!

Stay tuned for updates on eFORT’s progress and exciting news on how you can contribute to shaping a secure and sustainable future!

Contact us

contact@efort-project.eu

Follow us on:

Reinforcing Energy Security in Ukraine: Highlights from the eFORT Project

Joint Stock Company “Prykarpattyaoblenergo” is a distribution system operator located in the Ivano-Frankivsk region of western Ukraine. The company’s specialists are responsible for maintaining power grids that consist of over 26,000 km of overhead and underground power lines, along with more than 6,000 transformer substations. The licensed operational area of the enterprise spans 14,000 square kilometers, through which two billion seven million kilowatt-hours of electricity are transmitted annually.

The primary task of JSC “Prykarpattyaoblenergo” is to ensure reliable and uninterrupted power supply to both the population and businesses within the region. A key factor in maintaining the quality of services is the cybersecurity of its information and operational networks. Since the onset of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the company’s cybersecurity department has faced numerous challenges and a significant increase in attacks.

Participation in the eFORT project represents a vital activity aimed at minimizing risks in cyberspace. Within this project, JSC “Prykarpattyaoblenergo” serves as a potential end-user of eFORT solutions and acts as a testing ground to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed solutions.

The development of innovative solutions in the field of cybersecurity for Electrical Power and Energy Systems (EPES) necessitates a detailed study and understanding of the cyber threat landscape that an electric power company encounters daily. These activities were successfully initiated and carried out in collaboration with CIRCE, iSolutions, and JSC “Prykarpattyaoblenergo” within the framework of the eFORT project. The primary objective was to obtain and thoroughly analyze traffic from the operational networks of the Distribution System Operator (DSO) for cyber threats. The data obtained is extremely valuable and will be used in the eFORT project to guide the goals and directions of further innovative work.

Figure 1 Overall network architecture and points for capturing data

JSC “Prykarpattyaoblenergo’s” cybersecurity specialists, together with representatives from iSolutions, organized and executed traffic capture at various points in the DSO’s information and operational networks as part of the preparation for the Use Case demonstration scenarios. A substantial amount of data was collected for analysis. iSolutions provided valuable consultations and technical support for selecting the optimal network points for traffic capture. The process was divided into several stages, utilizing network devices provided by CIRCE. The data recording spanned more than a week, and the resulting data sets were handed over to CIRCE’s team of specialists, led by Esteban Damián Gutiérrez Mlot, a Computer Science Specialist at Fundación CIRCE.

The analysis of network traffic data was conducted by CIRCE using Malcolm, a powerful network traffic analysis tool suite. Malcolm automatically normalises, enriches, and correlates data for comprehensive analysis, providing robust visibility into network communications through two distinct interfaces: OpenSearch Dashboard, which offers flexible data visualisation, and Arkime, a tool designed for identifying and analysing network sessions related to suspected security incidents. For threat detection, Malcolm processes network packets through two Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), Zeek (formerly Bro) and Suricata.

Figure 2 Threats detected in inbound traffic

The bar chart (Figure 2) provides an overview of the attack types detected within the network traffic. The most prevalent attack category is scanning, representing a significant number of detections. Additionally, HTTP attacks show a notable frequency. These findings highlight that scanning activities, indicative of reconnaissance or probing, are the most recurrent threat, followed by a substantial number of HTTP attacks. Lower-frequency categories, such as denial of service, execution, discovery, and defence evasion, are particularly concerning. Despite their lower frequency, these less common attacks demand heightened attention due to their potential severity and specialised nature.

The outbound network serves as the gateway connecting external networks to the vital infrastructure of the electrical substation. Securing this network is paramount to safeguarding the critical processes that form the backbone of the substation’s operations.

Figure 3 Threats detected in outbound traffic

As expected, the outbound network exhibits significantly fewer threats compared to inbound traffic. Nevertheless, it is crucial to secure this area effectively, emphasizing the need for robust security measures to mitigate potential risks.

As a result of the work carried out and the deeper analysis conducted, JSC “Prykarpattyaoblenergo” has developed several technical and software measures to improve the security of the region’s power grids, which is extremely significant and important. The effective collaboration of specialists from CIRCE, iSolutions, and JSC “Prykarpattyaoblenergo” within the framework of the eFORT project has provided not only valuable contributions to the project but also advanced, innovative experiences and directions for strategic initiatives to enhance the cybersecurity of the Ukrainian DSO.

Contact us

contact@efort-project.eu

Follow us on: