Smart grid technology is not entirely new, but it is an area of current extensive research, especially recently due to unexpected energy supply interventions, planned changes by the European Union, or the idea of a single energy market. This paper provides an essential update on smart grid technology. It gives an overview of the recent challenges in this area, both from a technological perspective and the changing perception of the energy situation. This paper also serves as an opening introduction for the 1st Smart Grid Technologies 2022 workshop.