Smart Grid Considerations: Energy Efficiency vs. Security

The Smart Grid is expected to increase the efficiency of the current power grid, to cope with volatile power production based on renewable resources, to reduce the need for fossil-based energy resources, and to guarantee the stability of power supply. To achieve these objectives, today's power grid is enhanced by information and communication technology to increase the information flow and to enable a sophisticated power production and power demand management. However, as the power grid is extended to a network of networks, it does not only become smarter, but also more vulnerable to security threats. This chapter discusses the current status and future developments of the Smart Grid and its challenges. Enhancements in terms of energy efficiency and new energy management approaches are covered as well as novel security challenges in different parts of the Smart Grid architecture. In short, this chapter analyzes some of the most striking risks and threats concerning the new Smart Grid infrastructure and discusses interdependencies between energy efficiency and security in the Smart Grid.