Enhancing Cybersecurity in Hydrogen Energy Systems: A Simulation Environment for Benchmarking Datasets

Smart grids utilize advanced algorithms to optimize energy distribution, enabling dynamic decision-making for energy storage (such as hydrogen production via electrolysis) and discharge strategies (including the use of hydrogen fuel cells). This integration of hydrogen into smart energy grids requires real-time data exchange to ensure system stability and enhance operational efficiency. However, the interconnected nature of cyber-physical systems presents significant cybersecurity risks for hydrogen-based energy infrastructures, and robust security measures such as an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) are required. A critical challenge in developing effective IDS solutions for hydrogen infrastructure is the scarcity of cybersecurity datasets. This research proposes a cyberphysical network simulation environment specifically designed for hydrogen energy systems to address data scarcity. The simulation framework uses data from a microgrid to a networked ecosystem of interconnected entities, including electrolyzers, fuel cells, solar panels, wind turbines, and energy consumers. The real-world hydrogen microgrid data is used to simulate man-in-the-middle attacks, ensuring an accurate representation of operational dynamics and cyber-physical interactions. The system is simulated under normal operational conditions before introducing data alteration attacks, including scaling, burst, and zeroing attacks. The resulting benchmarking dataset of healthy and 30 compromised states is a foundation for designing and evaluating IDS tailored to hydrogen-based energy infrastructures. By addressing the challenge of data scarcity in digitalized hydrogen energy systems, this research supports the development of cybersecure and resilient energy management strategies.