OTC: Siemens and TÜV SÜD partner to strengthen digital safety, security for energy

HOUSTON -- Bright and early on Monday morning, in a special press briefing on the first day of the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Siemens and TÜV SÜD announced that they are coming together to address the growing risk of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure. They will do this by collaborating to provide digital safety and security assessments, as well as industrial vulnerability assessments that help global energy customers identify asset risk and cybersecurity solutions.

Under this partnership, articulated by TÜV SÜD President and CEO John Tesoro and Siemens V.P. Leo Simonovich, TÜV SÜD will offer digital assessments that incorporate Siemens as a provider of cybersecurity vulnerability assessments across the entire cyber asset management lifecycle. The digital assessments of industrial control systems in both the oil and gas and power generation sectors (nuclear applications excluded) will not be limited to customers using products and technologies manufactured and supplied by Siemens.

Critical infrastructure in the energy sector continues to be a primary target for hackers, said both Tesoro and Simonovich. This new risk environment, with a record number of near-miss safety events at facilities around the world, poses significant potential for damage to the health and safety of people, processes, plants and products. Cyber threats to the environment, finance and supply chains jeopardize the entire global economy. In this IoT-driven (Internet of Things) environment, where energy systems are increasingly connected, supplying data consolidation, visualization and evaluation, there is a heightened need for high-level trust and confidence in digital safety and security.

Both Simonovich and Tesoro noted that this is particularly relevant as cyberattacks are being executed more frequently, with higher level of sophistication, and at a lower cost. Increased connectivity magnifies the threat in energy systems. "Leveraging TÜV SÜD's expertise in safety and Siemens's strength in digital security, redefines how energy companies will manage their growing physical and digital safety and security challenges," said Tesoro. "TÜV SÜD has a long history of driving innovation, and is now at the forefront of cybersecurity testing, inspection and certification. TÜV SÜD's role is consistent with the need for developing mandatory, independent third-party certification for critical infrastructure and solutions."  

"This is about reducing risk," added Simonovich. "Together, we will redefine an approach that will lead to reduction in the growing risks in the digital world, reducing risk in the physical world, as well. Combining safety and security to address the human element, and strengthen trust, will provide an unprecedented view into risk.”

Earlier in the press briefing, Siemens Chief Technology for Offshore Solutions, Stig Olav Settemsdal, led discussions about the genesis and development of the firm’s two OTC Spotlight on Technology award-winners. These inclue Siemens’ BlueVault energy storage solutions and the Subsea Power Grid. Siemens is one of three companies to receive two Spotlight on New Technology (SONT) awards this year.

BlueVault energy storage is a lithium-ion battery-based energy storage solution suited for both all-electric and hybrid (e.g., diesel-electric) power applications. It is designed to help ensure power continuity and minimize emissions on vessels and offshore drilling rigs, as well as for offshore production topsides to improve performance, redundancy principles and gas turbine power plant performance. The highly digitalized solution solution features an advanced condition-monitoring system that monitors the voltage and temperature of individual battery cells to provide state-of-health and state-of-charge transparency of the energy storage solution.

“The development of the BlueVault energy storage solution focused on creating the safest energy storage solution in the offshore and marine industry,” said Settemsdal. “This award inspires our team to continue its efforts to drive safety in offshore and marine all-electric and hybrid power solutions into the future.”

The Subsea Power Grid powers subsea production equipment cost-effectively and with minimum risk. A departure from the more conventional approach to powering subsea assets, this technology transforms field developments by moving power distribution equipment, like transformers, switchgear and variable speed drives (VSD) subsea, thereby reducing cost and making previously uneconomically recoverable oil and gas resources recoverable.

“This award serves as a further encouragement to us in our daily efforts to deliver cost-efficient, reliable power distribution technology that supports complex subsea developments that require flexible power solutions,” said Atle Stroemme, Executive V.P., Subsea at Siemens.