With power disruptions expected to continue in the foreseeable future it is inevitable that no electricity, or lack thereof, will have dire consequences on all individuals across the globe as it negatively impacts daily lives and businesses.

The major disruptions and shortage of the supply of energy, now calls for a global dialogue to advocate the providing of real-world technical solutions such as energy technologies and electricity systems, which will enable access to reliable, affordable and sustainable energy for all.

On a national level, the local municipalities are expected to examine those technological solutions, which will address both the load management and revenue collection challenges. But, at what cost?

Major technological enhancements have rapidly emerged with the collaboration and cooperation of global energy experts and industries. These collaborations and combined efforts worked to advance the development, implementation and use of the microgrids, thereby in keeping with the aim to further improve sustained energy reliability and support the overloaded and underperforming traditional grid.

Developments which focus on microgrids are increasing as it adds to the global energy mix. In order to derive scale benefits, especially to those without access to electricity in a quick and sustainable way, accelerated progress/action should be implemented.

Microgrids are trending as isolated solutions, which can save money and help to relieve the current and future demand on the traditional grid during peak time demand. However there remains uncertainty regarding the ability to fast track microgrid solutions in a cost-effective manner.

A microgrid is a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources within clearly defined electrical boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the grid. A microgrid can connect and disconnect from the grid to enable it to operate in both grid-connected and island mode.

- US Department of Energy (DOE)

Despite the energy efficiency's tremendous potential and the efforts to seek renewable energy sources and power solutions to provide, albeit, a temporary relief solution to the ever-increasing global population, so too the global demand for energy continues to increase. Rendering a world who is unable to seize its full benefit. The continued grid-tie position utilizing renewables, feed-in economies, tariffs and billing, has exacerbated the complexity of utility and/or municipality metering technology and its administration requirements.

The result, is a significant increase in the energy cost to service journey whilst grid instability remains as the ‘elephant in the room’, which drives the large scale technology and invention advances to ensure the grid is able to perform under widespread loading and offloading conditions.

Electrical Smart Metering addresses the forward and reverse tariff needs with accelerated grid monitoring and management technology, thereby enabling the utilities to control the grid stability in addition to the enablement of a two-way communication between meter and supplier.

Numerous smart meters are being deployed around the globe and have become entrenched as a fundamental strategy requirement in a new energy landscape. However, a substantial remote and geographically dispersed population remains powerless with the need to access clean, sustainable, and stable energy separate from an already inadequate utility grid that is fragile.

The cyber security risks associated with electrical smart metering, is further inflated by the cost of service as it is transferred into pricing models, which the customer pays for. As a result, the end users of electricity are impacted through energy pricing. A transition from a grid-reliance state is required to commence.

The increased customer costs combined with the instability of the traditional grid, remains a global issue and has the probability to spiral out of control, if not urgently addressed within the next decade.

The new energy landscape and its increasing challenges have made it even more apparent to address the current global energy and climate crises and demand for energy. It is therefore accepted that the microgrids initiative will be an accelerator in the new energy landscape which will provide reliable, affordable and sustainable energy.