Time Synchronization Attack in Synchrophasors-based Dynamic Thermal Rating Assessment: Impact and Analysis

Wide-Area Monitoring Systems play a key role in ensuring reliability and security of modern electric power system operation. Phasor Measurement Units are the enabling technology for WAMS, since they provide synchronized measurements in spread points of the system characterized by higher data flow rate compared to traditional SCADA systems. An interesting application of WAMSs is the Dynamic Thermal Rating assessment of power lines, that allows fully exploit the benefits deriving by massive penetration of Renewable Power Generators by dynamically evaluating the interconnections’ transfer capabilities, reducing congestions in the system.Despite these benefits, these systems are vulnerable to Time Synchronization Attacks, since the majority of PMUs uses GPS signals as time reference for the synchronization procedure.In this paper the impact of TSAs on the reliability of DTR assessment will be discussed by analyzing the first results obtained on a realistic case study.