SEESGEN-ICT deals with ICT, Energy Efficiency and Smart Grids integrating the Distributed Generation. In the perspective of the so called 20-20-20 Europe Strategy to contrast the effects of the climate change, the above key words are strictly interrelated. Accordingly with the Smart 2020 study1 the potential of Smart Grids to reduce the overall CO2 emissions by 2020 counts for the 4%. Within this potential, the estimated contribution of the Energy Efficiency has a relevant incidence: for instance the effect of the reduction of the losses in the Transmission and Distribution (Smart) Grids is estimated as high as 44%. By the other hand, the expected benefit from the integration of distributed Renewable Sources amounts to 40%. A further key word has to be considered as included in the concept of Smart Grids: Demand Side Integration. This concept, whose implementation is somehow already ongoing, assumes the User as an active node of the Smart Grid and implies a change of perspective with respect to the traditionally passive role of the User. The benefit from the new behaviour of Users is estimated as the 14% of the overall reduction of the emissions enabled by Smart Grids.

The above drivers have already a remarkable relevance, but they are more than likely doomed to growth when considering a longer terms perspective, where technologies and solutions, nowadays still in development, will be fully exploited. For instance, the same quoted study figures only to 2% the incidence of electric cars on the overall emissions reduction in 2020. Just after 10 years the diffusion of this technology is expected to decuple.

To enable the above attainments, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is essential. ICT provides solution-based tools to overcome fragmentation, i.e. integrating distributed power sources in Smart Grids; creating intelligent management of distributed systems and all their components; monitoring of performances such as recording and accounting of energy fluxes. ICT is also necessary for implementing Energy Efficiency strategies through Demand-side initiatives and to provide the instruments for the effective robust and resilient implementation of the new business models.