A blockchain-based cybersecurity framework developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory has been licensed by GridForge Energy Solutions, marking the technology’s transition from federal research to commercial deployment. Called Cyber Grid Guard, the patented platform was built with support from the DOE Office of Electricity to give grid operators real-time visibility into grid behavior and verify the integrity of operating data across the U.S. electric grid.
GridForge licenses ORNL’s Cyber Grid Guard platform
GridForge Energy Solutions, a California-based startup, plans to commercialize Cyber Grid Guard for grid management companies, energy project developers, and utilities. The technology was developed by ORNL researchers Raymond Borges Hink, Gary Hahn, Aaron Werth, and Emilio Piesciorovsky, with funding from the DOE Office of Electricity.
“In the past, people didn’t know if they could trust this grid operating data,” said Borges Hink, the ORNL cybersecurity specialist who led the research. “This provides a new layer of validation and analysis to make the grid safer.”
GridForge was incubated through LabStart, a nonprofit that connects entrepreneurs with national laboratory research and provides funding and mentorship to help bring that research to market. The licensing agreement marks Cyber Grid Guard’s transition from a federally supported research project to a commercially deployable product.
How blockchain secures grid device communications
Cyber Grid Guard applies the same tamper-resistant blockchain technology used to protect cryptocurrency—repurposed here to secure communications among electronic devices across the grid. Configuration and operating data, including voltage, frequency, breaker status, and power quality, are distributed redundantly across multiple servers and continuously verified against the most recent settings stored in the blockchain.
The system detects unusual grid activity, data manipulation, and unauthorized changes to device settings—any of which could trigger cascading outages or damage grid infrastructure. When a change occurs, performance logs trace it back to the specific device responsible, giving operators a clear audit trail.
Every data packet is also checked against a known network device listed in an inventory protected within the blockchain itself. That verification layer makes it significantly harder for an attacker to introduce false data without detection.
Laboratory testing validated the framework against cyberattacks
Before reaching the commercial market, Cyber Grid Guard was tested at ORNL’s Grid Research Integration and Deployment Center, known as GRID-C. Researchers used a substation test bed built with commercial hardware — the same type found in real-world grid deployments — to simulate realistic attack scenarios. Those simulations included denial-of-service attacks and multi-step man-in-the-middle attacks, which intercept and alter data as it moves between systems.
Both represent well-documented threat vectors for grid infrastructure. The framework was also tested inside an operational ORNL substation. GRID-C’s combination of advanced modeling and real hardware allows researchers to develop protections at scale, using the laboratory’s utility-scale electric grid as a proving ground before technologies move into broader deployment.
Technology could unlock over 100 gigawatts of underutilized grid capacity
GridForge sees Cyber Grid Guard’s data verification capabilities as more than a security tool — they could resolve a trust gap that currently leaves more than 100 gigawatts of flexible grid capacity sitting idle. That underutilization, according to GridForge CEO Worlasie Djameh, stems from uncertainty about how energy partners behave during periods of high grid stress.
One concrete application involves microgrids, including those powering AI data centers. The platform can validate electrical measurements between a utility substation and a privately owned microgrid, providing transparency about energy transfer across different grid owners while monitoring power quality at the point of interconnection.
Demand response programs are another target. Today, measuring how much a participant reduces their energy use during a high-demand event can take days and often requires sharing data across multiple owners. Cyber Grid Guard could compress that timeline while protecting proprietary information on all sides.
“We believe bringing it to market is one of the highest-leverage steps we can take toward a more reliable, affordable, and dynamic grid,” Djameh said.
Microgrid validation and demand response programs
Cyber Grid Guard is a blockchain-based cybersecurity framework developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and now licensed to GridForge Energy Solutions for commercial deployment. It protects grid device communications by distributing and continuously verifying operating data, detecting unauthorized changes, and tracing their source. The technology was validated against simulated cyber attacks at ORNL’s GRID-C facility and inside a live substation. GridForge intends to target grid management companies, utilities, and energy project developers, with specific use cases in microgrid validation and demand response programs. The company estimates the platform could help unlock more than 100 gigawatts of currently underutilized flexible grid capacity.
Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.
