## 8 Discussion and Conclusions  
SG can provide a package solution of many issues such as reliability, efficiency, system resiliency, energy savings, integration of large amount of alternative energy sources, to name a few. The following conclusions can be drawn out from this study:  
* The main purpose of SG is to exploit the current technologies to address challenges in order to achieve secure energy supply.
* Integration of AMI, smart monitoring and measurement, and PMU into SGs provides more controllability over the grid system. However, data corruption and cyber-security related issues arising from these features need to be resolved by ensuring more advanced cyber-physical structure and stronger cyber-security. Advanced system can increase the self-healing capabilities in SG operation. Technologies need to be mature enough before applying them in a smart grid. In addition, SG offers new business opportunities for different kind of companies.
* SG needs supporting policies, strong political commitment and global collaboration.
* The electric utilities need sufficient experience in designing and developing highly reliable and secured information and communication system. The interoperability of the SG components with adaptive communication technology should be of prime consideration.
* Customer is the core pillar of the SG systems from the business point of view. Therefore, the power providers require finding an approach to encourage customers in order to sell this new idea. Education and awareness are also required for the public about this new power network. Sharing experiences through demonstration projects, collaborative development on SG standards and policies, disseminating best practices and training of new cadre can accelerate deployment of smart grid projects and will be beneficial to developing countries.  
Figure 15: The load of the SQU Eco-House (Figure 14) during the summer and the amount of energy fed back to the grid.  
* The cost needed for full installation of SGs is usually high. Since the government is the main stakeholder in such investments, a mechanism is required that appeal to the private investors.
* Motivation of research, development, and innovation activities implementation are essential for any successful outcome. Government needs to find mechanisms to provide rewards and incentive for the universities, utilities and industrials to invest in SG research, buildup, and demonstration projects.
* Many countries have conducted research, and undertaken pilot projects. Oman is still in initial stages of research in this area. Universities in Oman are stepping forward and leading the way in investigating and developing tentative models for SG implementation in their country but much more collaboration among utilities, government, industries and academics are required to design and come up with a perfect scheme for SG implementation in Oman. It is hoped that more prioritized initiatives will open up more possibilities on utilization of SG application in Oman in the future.  
In summary, SG is not an option but a need for building an environmentally secure future. The concept of smart grid has emerged from a perception to a goal that is gradually being pursued, and Oman does not want to stay behind all the others, with increased focus on research and development in this field. Concrete energy policies developed in different counties will facilitate smart grid initiatives all throughout the world with mutual collaboration, information exchange between countries and utilities being a necessary precondition.  
All authors contributed equally to the research activities and for its final presentation as a full manuscript. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
No external source of funding was attained for this research activity.  
The authors declare no conflict of interest.