Q-Secure-P²-SMA: Quantum-Secure Privacy- Preserving Smart Meter Authentication for Unbreakable Security in Smart Grid

Smart grids, steering an energy revolution through smart metering infrastructure, face cybersecurity threats and unauthorized access risks. Within these systems, classical authentication protocols validate identities, fostering trust and enabling access to authorized resources, while preventing unauthorized access. However, classical authentication protocols are predominantly dependent on public-key cryptography, rooted in computational hard problems such as integer factorization and discrete logs to uphold security. Nevertheless, these computational hard problems can be easily compromised by quantum adversaries. Furthermore, quantum-resistant smart meter authentication protocols are either deemed impractical or reliant on quantum hard problems, potentially lacking future-proof security. Moreover, maintaining SG entity privacy holds equal significance. Consequently, this article introduces the Quantum-Secure Privacy-Preserving Smart Meter Authentication (Q-Secure-P2-SMA) protocol. It utilizes semi-quantum key distribution and a hash function to facilitate quantum-resistant metering data communication, with a focus on privacy and practicality. The security analysis and performance evaluation conducted for Q-Secure-P2-SMA confirm its resilience against well-known security threats, showcasing improved efficiency compared to existing state-of-art-protocols across computation, communication, and energy overhead. Notably, the Q-Secure-P2-SMA doesn’t necessitate quantum capability among all SG entities, making it more practical and relevant in real-world scenarios.

I. Introduction

The concept of the smart grid ushers in a transformative era of electrical infrastructure, fostering bidirectional communication and automation across traditional grid components [1]. Among the myriad applications of the smart grid, one particularly prominent use case lies in the realm of smart metering infrastructure (SMI). Smart metering infrastructure at its core, is composed of a dynamic interplay between a central control center (CC) and an array of smart meters (SMs) strategically placed within residential premises. This network orchestrates the collection of metering data, encompassing both electricity consumption and production figures [2]. The smart metering infrastructure gains depth through the integration of distributed energy resources at residential premises, such as solar panels, altering consumption with intermittent generation. This evolution lets households intermittently supply excess electricity to the grid, empowering consumers as active energy participants and bestowing grid operators and suppliers with invaluable insights. The meticulous aggregation of metering data provides suppliers with the capability to make accurate predictions about household electricity needs and energy production [3]. This predictive capability becomes crucial for optimizing electricity distribution, enabling precise resource allocation that minimizes supply losses and significantly enhances overall grid operational efficiency. Also, the smart grid enhances transparency in electricity distribution, allowing suppliers to streamline cost reconciliation with network and system operators, ushering in an era of accountability and precision in energy commerce.