Special Session 10

SPECIAL SESSION #10

Giovanna Adinolfi

ENEA Italian National agency for new technologies, energy and sustainable economic development

• giovanna.adinolfi@enea.it

Maria Valenti

ENEA Italian National agency for new technologies, energy and sustainable economic development

• maria.valenti@enea.it

Giorgio Graditi

ENEA Italian National agency for new technologies, energy and sustainable economic development

• giorgio.graditi@enea.it

In the current geopolitical context, cyber threats have emerged as strategic attacks capable of severely compromising service continuity and operational functionality across both private enterprises and public services..

Smart grid components—such as meters, sensors, and controllers—leverage data communication networks to transmit critical information, measurements, and control commands necessary for system monitoring, regulation, and coordination.

However, these systems exhibit a high degree of vulnerability to cyber-attacks.

Robust cybersecurity strategies demand continuous development and deployment of advanced mechanisms for threat prevention, real-time detection, and effective mitigation.

In this context, the Special Section “Methods, algorithms and solutions for securing energy grids against cyber-attacks“ aims to focus on techniques, implementation and applications for cyber-resilient energy networks.

Possible contributions deal with (but not limited to):

• innovative devices and systems to mitigate cyber threats;
• methods and logics for cyber-attacks detection;
• strategies for energy grids restoration after a cyber-attack;
• protection and communication solutions for secure energy grids;
• application of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) techniques;
• Quantum Free Space and optical fiber QKD solutions and infrastructures;
• novel Post-quantum cryptography algorithms and implementations.

Adinolfi Giovanna received the M.S. degree (with honors) in electronic engineering from the University of Salerno (Italy). Hardware engineer in different industries (spatial and terrestrial applications). Since 2010 she is a Researcher at ENEA, Italian National agency for new technologies, energy and sustainable economic development.
Her main research interests are in AC, DC and hybrid grids electronics interfaces, network performance and reliability analysis, thermal management, micro-grids and and smart grids systems control strategies development and experimental characterization also by Hardware In the Loop (HIL) validation. She is member of CEI, IEC and CENELEC (tasks TC 82 “Solar photovoltaic energy systems” and TC 008-123-SC 008C “System aspect of electrical energy supply”, TC 327 “Quantum technologies”). She contributes to International Energy Agency 14, 19 and 44 Task activities and participates to the ENEA - JRC Energy governance. Her research activities are carried out in national and international projects and collaborations, also in the role of technical-scientific coordinator. She is author and reviewer of scientific papers published in the proceedings of international conferences and journals. She is also expert of “Digital Solar PV Systems and Grid” working group of European Technology and Innovation Platform for Photovoltaics (European Commission ETIP PV) with continuous and active contribution to the identification of challenges and opportunities related to smart PV systems and their integration in DC and AC grids and microgrids. She has been involved in “Cyber Security of Energy Systems” project, funded by the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security.

Dr. Maria Valenti, senior researcher at ENEA Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, received her Ph.D. in Mechanical Systems Engineering and her M.Sc. cum laude in Mechanical Engineering (Automation and Robotics) from the University of Napoli, Italy. She also earned an MBA from the Stoà Business School, Italy. Between 1999 and 2008, she worked in the telecommunications sector as a Product Manager, focusing on value-added services in mobile and fixed communications.
Since 2009, Dr. Valenti has been a researcher at ENEA's Energy Technologies Department. In December 2018, she assumed the role of Head of the Smart Grid and Energy Network Laboratory. She serves as a Project Leader for both national and European projects and leads the Technical Scientific Committee of the TRAIN Consortium.
Her primary research interests include power systems design and control, micro-grid and smart grid applications, energy performance analysis, and concentrating solar power systems design. Dr. Valenti has participated in numerous European Union and national projects. She is a reviewer for international journals, a member of scientific committees, and has supervised numerous master's theses and international fellowship programs. She has authored many scientific papers published in the proceedings of international conferences and journals.

Prof. Giorgio Graditi since March 2023 he is the Director General of ENEA - Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, that is under the control of the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security.
He received the doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Palermo (Italy). Since 2000, he is a Researcher at ENEA. From July 2020 to February 2023, he was the Director of the Department of Energy Technologies and Renewable Sources of ENEA. From 2018 to 2020 he was the head of Solar Thermal and Smart Network Division of ENEA and from 2011 to 2018 he was the head of the Photovoltaic Systems and Smart Grid Unit of ENEA. He is responsible of ENEA initiatives and activities for the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
From April 2019, he is the President of MEDENER, the association recognized by the European Commission that brings together the national agencies of the Mediterranean countries engaged in the field of energy efficiency and renewable sources. He is also President of SIET S.p.A. world leader in testing for the research and development of innovative components and systems for electricity production plants, member of the Board of Directors of the University of Cassino, member of the Board of Directors of the partnership NEST - Network 4 Energy Sustainable Transition funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, coordinator of the Scientific Technical Committee of the National Energy Technology Cluster. He was an expert member of the MUR Working Group for the Thematic Area “Industrial Energetics”, Area “Climate, Energy and Sustainable Mobility”, National Research Plan 2021-2027.
He is operating as Italian member under Mission Innovation initiative funded by Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security for Mission “Green Powered Future” and “Clean Hydrogen”, he was a member of the H2020 National Steering Board for the "Safe, Clean and Efficient Energy" Cluster, and a member of the working group of the thematic area “Industrial Energy” for the “Climate, Energy and Sustainable Mobility” area set up by the Italian Ministry of University and Research within the drafting of the national research plan 2020-2027. He is the vice-coordinator of the Joint Programme on Smart Grid (JP SG) within European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) and the responsible of many National and European (FP7, H2020) projects on the topics of RES, integrated energy networks and smart grid. In 2017, he received the Italian National Scientific Qualification as Full Professor in the sector of electrical energy engineering.
His main research interests are in: design, modelling and tools development for the control and management of Smart Grids and microgrids in the presence of DER; energy conversion components and systems design and characterization; performance analysis of integrated energy networks by multi-objective techniques; design, modelling, and analysis of multi-energy hubs; management and operation optimization of local and renewable energy communities; design, characterization and testing of concentrated solar power and photovoltaic components and plants; technologies and uses of hydrogen; RES production and demand forecasting based on artificial intelligence techniques. He has supervised several MSc and PhD theses. He is also peer review, associated editor, member of editorial and advisory board of scientific journals, and chairman in international conference. He is also responsible of many R&D contract and agreement in the energy sector with international and national stakeholders.
He is the author of many scientific books and articles ( with Scopus H-index 42) published in international journals and in the proceedings of international congresses.