A Quantum Leap in Microgrids Security: The Prospects of Quantum-Secure Microgrids
Zefan Tang, Peng Zhang, Walter O. Krawec
Abstract
Communication has always played a vital role in microgrids to maintain reliable operations and achieve great benefits and will be even more critical with the increasing deployment of renewable energies, information technologies, and real-time automation and control systems. The existing classical cryptographic methods for securing microgrid communication, however, rely on mathematical assumptions, which are vulnerable to attacks from quantum computers. This article reviews the current status of developing quantum-secure microgrids, namely microgrids that are secure against attacks from quantum computers. We introduce some potential issues associated with applying existing quantum cryptography methods in the context of microgrids and provide future perspectives to make quantum security more practical in microgrids.