January 18, 2024 at 09:12AM
The US Department of Energy (DoE) plans to invest $30 million in innovative cybersecurity tools to secure clean energy infrastructure from cyber threats. The funding, part of the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts, will support projects focused on identifying and mitigating threats to energy infrastructure, including cloud and renewable energy devices. Additional details can be found on the Office for the Under Secretary for Infrastructure website.
From the meeting notes, it is clear that the US Department of Energy (DoE) has announced a $30 million investment in projects focused on securing clean energy infrastructure against cyber threats. This funding, provided as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts, will support the research, development, and demonstration of innovative cybersecurity tools.
The funding, coming from the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER), will be granted in awards of up to $3 million for new tools and technologies. Approximately 10 awards are expected to be made, varying in individual amounts.
Projects eligible for funding should concentrate on identifying and mitigating cyber threats, including those targeting cloud infrastructure. Specifically, projects improving forensic analysis of infected renewable energy field devices, addressing threats to inverter-based resources, enhancing communication security between Distributed Energy Resources and the electric grid, and improving the cybersecurity of virtual power plants may be considered for funding.
David Crane, DoE Under Secretary for Infrastructure, emphasized the importance of this funding in driving the development of next-generation cyber technologies to protect the nation’s energy infrastructure.
Furthermore, it is mentioned that additional information on this funding opportunity can be found on the Office for the Under Secretary for Infrastructure website. The meeting notes also include related articles about cybersecurity funding and recent breaches in federal agencies for further context.