Smart Grids: A Comprehensive Survey of Challenges, Industry Applications, and Future Trends

With the increased energy demands of the 21st century, there is a clear need for developing a more sustainable method of energy generation, distribution, and transmission. The popularity of Smart Grid continues to grow as it presents its benefits, including interconnectivity, improved efficiency, the ability to integrate renewable energy sources, and many more. However, it is not without its challenges. This survey aims to provide an introductory background of smart grids, detail some of the main aspects and current challenges, and review the most recent papers and proposed solutions. It will also highlight the current state of implementation of the smart grid by describing various prototypes, as well as various countries and continents implementation plans and projects.