The Impact of Physical-Cyber Attacks on the MPPT Algorithm in Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems

With the development of smart grids (SG) and the integration of renewable sources of energy, grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) power plants are being deployed at a fast pace. In order to enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and reliability of PV systems, advanced information and communication technologies are needed. However, the increasing reliance on communication infrastructure has made PV power plants more vulnerable to cyber-physical attacks. In this study, the impact of various cyber-physical attacks on the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm is investigated. MPPT is one of the most critical control algorithms in PV plants and plays a vital role in optimizing the delivered power to the grid. For instance, in this study, an attack on the perturb-and-observe (P&O) algorithm is carried out and preliminary results show that a physical cyber-attack can disrupt the performance of this algorithm and lead to a decrease in system efficiency.