Transforming Energy Security with Dr. Leonid Lev, CTO of Cyber Entrepreneur and Business Development at Israel Electric Corporation [One of the 2024 Energy Central Innovation Champions]

Please help us celebrate Dr. Lev’s and the other champions’ successes by reading some of the insights garnered from these exclusive Innovation Champion Interviews, and we invite you to leave any questions you have in the comments below!

Energy Central is proud to present this illuminating interview with Dr. Leonid Lev, a pioneering figure in the utility sector and a selection from Energy Central’s Champions of Innovation for 2024. Dr. Lev, Israel Electric Corporation’s CTO of Cyber Entrepreneur and Business Development, brings with him a career that began in the development of SCADA systems and has since expanded to spearheading cybersecurity initiatives at Israel Electric Corporation. Dr. Lev has been at the forefront of integrating advanced technologies to enhance the resilience and security of critical infrastructures. His journey from an electrical and computer engineer to the CTO Cyber Entrepreneur exemplifies a commitment to innovation and excellence in the energy industry.

With his groundbreaking work in the development of the dynamic digital twin, a platform that simulates and mitigates rare anomalies and cyber-attacks on power grids, his leadership in numerous international R&D projects has shaped the future of cybersecurity solutions. Read on as we explore his insights on the evolving role of cybersecurity, the balance between digitalization and risk, and the promising future of AI in power grid management.

Energy Central: Congratulations on being selected as one of our Champions of Innovation for 2024! Can you tell us a bit about your role in the utility sector and how you got started in this space?
Dr. Leonid Lev: After graduating from university, I worked as electrical and computer engineer on the projects for developing the SCADA systems for the electrical systems. I think that not so many engineers remember small, embedded computers with 1 kb of RAM and 8 Kb of ROM using machine codes and then assembler language. I was the team leader and manager of the labs for the development of the components for the SCADA systems. When I started to work for Israel Electric in the middle of 90s, I was a technical leader and an integrator of the projects for control and managing of Israel Electric power grid.

EC: Dr. Lev, your development of the dynamic digital twin Sophic Zone has been a significant innovation in the power industry. Can you explain how Zone™ works and its impact on improving the resilience and security of critical infrastructure against cyber-attacks and operational disruptions?
LL: Last year, Sophic Zone™ was awarded as a game changer during power grid development, production and support focusing on the Black Swan situation in the power grid, which has an extreme impact on the successful continued business operation of the power grid, due to rare and unpredictable outlier anomalies or a combination of anomalies. Sophic Zone™ is a friendly user offline platform that integrates the model of the SCADA system, the model of the power grid and different engines for simulation the anomalies in the power grid, reaction of the SCADA and in parallel running different attacks on the SCADA. The customer could customize the models according to his SCADA and power grid assets or configuration. At the end of the simulation process, the customer receives the report with description of the anomalies, procedures, and cyber attacks that were simulated and recommendations for mitigation of the possible threats.   

EC: You have led numerous international R&D projects under prestigious programs like FP7 and Horizon2020. What have been some of the key challenges and lessons from these projects, and how have they shaped the development of cybersecurity solutions for critical infrastructures?
LL: In the 2009, I was appointed the manager of innovative international projects including different R&D projects in Europe, Brazil, and Israel for security of electrical grids. My team was responsible for research and development of the models, processes and security of the interdependent critical infrastructures like electricity, gas, water, and mitigation of the possible threats. There were two main challenges for my team in all those projects. The first problem was to build integrated environment for development, validation and demonstration of the solution. This environment aggregated all the existing labs of the partners all over the world and provided specific services to the different partners. The second problem was the same as G. Box said: “All models are wrong, some are useful”. That means that nobody could build the 100% model of the real world. This is a compromise of the quality of data, resources (such as budget, time, team, and customers’ requirements). It is a holistic and reductionist problem of finding a compromise between an understanding of the processes and of the detailing level of the model according to the specific customers’ requirements.

EC: As the CTO Cyber Entrepreneur at Israel Electric Corporation, you have a unique perspective on the intersection of energy technology and cybersecurity. How do you see the role of cybersecurity evolving in the future of smart grids and critical infrastructure? What new threats and challenges should utilities be prepared for?
LL: Cybersecurity is a crucial aspect for sustainable operation of the critical infrastructures and especially of the smart grid operation. I could say that smart grid is digitalization of the electrical grid with a great number of smart devices installed on the grid, data measurements and smart management. On the one hand, cyberattacks are the great risk to the operation of the smart grids, but on the other hand utilities could not stop the digitalization process and totally prevent the risks of the cyberattacks. But we know that great risks are also great opportunities. From my point of view, the balance between risks and opportunities is the main challenge for the utilities during the digitalization era.

EC: Your career spans over 30 years in energy and critical infrastructure security. Looking ahead, what are the next steps or emerging technologies you are excited about that have the potential to further enhance the resilience and security of power grids globally?

LL: You know that electrical grid is the most complex technical system in the world. Today, electrical grid is in the transforming process similar to the transforming process caused by the Internet in the computer and communication 30 years ago. There are many aspects to enhance the resilience and security of electrical grids, but from my point of view the use of AI in the design, validation, and operation of the electrical grid is very promising. To provide this continuous process, we need smart cyber models and a large amount of qualitative data.

EC: Something we want to ask all of our champions: what does innovation mean to you, especially when it comes to the utility sector? And how do you ensure it finds its way into the DNA of your teams rather than just being a buzzword?

LL: Once while preparing a presentation about innovation in utilities for India Smart Utility Week 2021, I tried to find definition of innovation. There were so many different interpretations. From my point of view, though, innovation is the style of life, thinking, and working, but there are five main pillars for not being a buzzword in the company: vision, knowledge, synergy of ideas, resources, and support of the company management.

Read about the other Innovation Selections here: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/announcing-energy-centrals-2024-innovation-champions

Check out the full Innovation Special Issue here: https://energycentral.com/topics/tags/special-issue-2024-06-innovation-power-industry