Decentralized Energy Production: Green Future or Cybersecurity Nightmare?

Explore the cybersecurity challenges of decentralized energy production in this 40-minute conference talk from the 37th Chaos Communication Congress. Delve into the potential risks associated with cloud-connected solar inverters and their impact on the evolving energy infrastructure. Examine vulnerabilities found in popular solar inverter systems, including insecure direct object reference, unsecured firmware update processes, and inadequate TLS implementation. Learn about exploitation techniques that could manipulate power electronics and potentially endanger grid stability. Discuss the need for improved regulations and cybersecurity measures for smaller connected power plants, which collectively produce significant amounts of energy. Consider the balance between democratizing renewable energy production and ensuring the security of our critical infrastructure.