“People Need to Utilize Microgrids And Have Traditional Grid Systems as a Backup,” Says Hover Energy Founder Chris Griffin

At the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, one city plunged into darkness. A massive grid failure left nearly the entire island without power, turning what should have been a night of celebration into a stark reminder of how fragile traditional energy infrastructure has become.

Rolling blackouts or load shedding, have been a daily reality in a few countries, crippling businesses and leaving homes without electricity for hours. These countries literally run out of power lines to transmit electricity from new projects, while its outdated auction system is failing to keep up with demand.

This even leads to national power grid collapses frequently, causing devastating economic losses. According to reports, the loss that countries bear is huge because of the unstable electricity supply. Businesses struggle to operate, hospitals risk losing power mid-surgery, and millions are left in the dark, literally and figuratively.

Even as a few countries transition away from natural gas dependence, the modern grid feels the strain. With degasification, the shift from gas-powered heating and industry to electric alternatives, the energy demand is surging—pushing the grid beyond its original capacity and leading to concerns over stability and energy security. The outdated grids on the other hand require costly maintenance.

The problem isn’t isolated to a single country or continent. The utility grid model is failing worldwide because it was never designed to support today’s population, let alone the exponential growth of energy-intensive industries such as AI-driven data centers. Built decades ago, these centralized grids are aging, overloaded, and unable to meet the rapidly increasing demand.

So, what’s the solution? A complete overhaul of the traditional grid? That would take decades and trillions of dollars.

Microgrids are the answer to these problems. Unlike traditional grids, they operate as localized energy systems, capable of functioning independently or in conjunction with the main grid. The key innovation behind modern microgrids is their ability to integrate multiple energy sources—solar, wind, batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, and even nuclear—seamlessly.

Christopher Griffin (Chris), a leader in clean energy innovation and the visionary behind Hover Energy, believes the world’s reliance on solar alone is shortsighted. “Solar is a great answer, but it’s not a complete answer,” he explains. “The key is to create power 24/7, not just when the sun is shining.” That is why Chris’ team at Hover has developed a Microgrid Management System™ that acts as a renewable energy router, allowing users to add any power source—wind, hydrogen, fuel cells, or even future technologies—without overhauling their entire system.

“Proving our Hover wind turbine’s operational performance was just one step towards a complete solution. Imagine a future where someone invents a way to power buildings with a liter of water,” Chris says. “With our microgrid system, you won’t have to start over. You just plug in the new technology, and you’re ready to go.

Microgrids ensure hospitals, emergency services, and businesses remain operational even when the main grid fails. Communities without access to the main grid can generate and store their own energy, reducing dependence on expensive and unreliable utilities. Microgrids are already transforming energy access worldwide.

By 2027, the value of the worldwide microgrid market is expected to have increased from over 30 billion USD in 2022 to over 60.5 billion USD. Even Hawaii has initiated microgrids using hydrogen fuel cells, which would provide clean, decentralized power solutions.

Hover’s implementation is faster than most expect. “From the moment we start conversations to a fully functional microgrid, the process can take as little as nine months,” Chris affirms.

The traditional grid isn’t going away overnight, but its role is changing. Instead of being the primary energy source, it will serve as a backup while microgrids take center stage in powering homes, businesses, and industries. And Hover is actively building it, one microgrid at a time.

The question is no longer whether microgrids will replace traditional grids. The question is: How quickly can we make it happen?