# Energy-Efficient LoRa Routing for Smart Grids
## 1 Introduction  
Smart grids (SGs) have efficiently tackled the issue of electricity wastage by addressing problems such as inefficient consumer electronics, a lack of accountable technology, sporadic monitoring and communication, and the absence of an electricity storage system [1]. The utilities in SGs are permitted to employ information and communication technologies (ICTs) to assess, monitor, and regulate power supply and demand with little negative environmental impact [2]. By offering two-way communication protocols, IoT-inspired applications provide significant solutions to improve power supply and demand concerns by assisting in the modernisation of outdated power grids into SGs [3]. Globally, the number of IoT devices installed has increased, and the electricity grid is no exception. These IoT devices are a collection of specialised physical items with embedded technology that can communicate with the outside world. In order to monitor and manage infrastructure, many IoT devices are integrated into SGs. These devices autonomously log the grid condition information and communicate to the entities, which use these data to manage the grid properly [4]. Communication technologies play a crucial role in the development and operation of SGs [5, 6]. They enable the exchange of data and information between different components of the grid. Various architectures and frameworks have been developed to aid in the selection of communication technologies for SGs [7, 8], such as the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). These models consider various factors and help decision-makers select the most appropriate communication technology for their specific smart grid project. Some common communication technologiesand standards [9] used in smart grid systems include advanced metring infrastructure (AMI), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), distributed energy resource management systems (DERMSs), OpenADR, IEEE 802.15.4, IEC 61850, and ZigBee. These technologies and standards are designed to be energy-efficient, reliable, and secure and are constantly evolving to improve the operation of smart grids. Efforts towards selecting the shortest path [10; 11] or optimal path for communication technology in smart grids involve analysing various factors such as reliability, security, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. The selection of communication technologies for smart grids must also consider the specific requirements of the grid, such as the type and number of devices to be connected, the distance between devices, and the bandwidth required for data transmission. The Internet of Things based communication architecture enables the development and operation of interoperable microgrids, which include the energy management and switch port security aspects, to reduce the burden on the utility grid [12]. Figure 1 shows the different components of the smart grid (SG) and how they communicate. The significant components are advanced metring infrastructure (AMI), advanced communication networks, distribution automation (DA), energy storage systems (ESSs), transmission, distribution subsystems, and control centres. To make smart grid technology work, there must be advanced communication networks for data transmission between the utility and the consumer, including fibre optic cables, wireless networks, or satellite communications. This work focused on the communication between the AMI and LoRa gateways. The wireless sensor networks (WSNs) utilised in an SG allow sensors to gather data autonomously and efficiently route packets to the BS. Each node in an SG forms a WSN-IoT network, which then gathers information from a specified area and forwards it to the destination. Such a data detection and routing technique requires extensive information exchange between nodes, resulting in more energy reduction [13]. Figure 1: Concept of the smart grid with its components.