Niti Aayog Flags Cybersecurity Risks in Wind Sector Due to Chinese Imports

Niti Aayog has issued a report highlighting cybersecurity concerns in India's wind sector, particularly due to the import of components from China. The report underscores the importance of safeguarding national infrastructure and proposes measures like certification of foreign-origin OEMs and relocating data centers within India.

Niti Aayog has raised alarms over the cybersecurity risks in India's wind sector, primarily attributed to the import of components from China. In a report titled 'Domestic Manufacturing Capacity & Potential Cyber Security Challenges in the Wind Sector and Way Forward,' it was noted that wind turbines can pose significant risks due to their information exchange capabilities through power plant controllers (PPC).

The PPC software, crucial in connecting wind farms directly to national and state grids, is fraught with vulnerabilities, especially with foreign-origin OEMs. The report recommends suspending these foreign PPCs if protocols are not adhered to.

Emphasizing the need for stringent security measures, the report urges for certification of all IPRs, software, and devices/hardware from foreign OEMs, specifically from neighboring countries. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Standardization Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) should validate these. The report also proposes relocating OEM data and R&D centers to India and appointing a chief information security officer within the country for better compliance.

(With inputs from agencies.)