Case Report for WP3 Company-driven Sustainability Innovation Integrating Users

This is a case report describing a project titled as "Smart Domo Grid" which is a product-service innovation works as a systematic change in the efficient use of energy at homes by integration of home appliances and the energy providers. The growth of smart grid, smart houses and smart appliances will have economic and environmental effects on users. The system will have obviously economic and environmental benefits both for users, energy and appliances providers. It will enable the energy providers to be able to manage overloads to avoid using inefficient resources of energy, enhance the energy quality, minimize energy dispersion where users exceed photovoltaic production, and avoid penalties and unneeded investments. It will enable appliance providers to understand how the market interacts with the possibilities offered by the new technology before the market launch. Moreover, the project has social benefits by stimulating users for more sustainable life style. Customers will be stimulated to change their habits, reducing energy wastes and promoting a more sustainable lifestyle in terms of energy consumption. Users are directly involved to experiment the smart system in real use conditions because the smart grid will enable them to actively save energy by participating in the network management. The project initiates by A2A (thanks to the received advice of its suppliers and external partners), an Italian energy provider. oElectrical Networks A2A SpA is today the second Italian electric operator with about 11 thousands Mw of installed capacity. In 2011, the group achieved a turnover of Euro 6.5 billion. The company is active in production, sale and distribution of electricity and gas. Moreover, it produces, distributes and sales heat through district heating networks. Moreover, it deals with the waste management and the integrated water cycle. At the moment, the project has been tested and future plans for industrialization and commercialization of the system is in the process, but currently not ready to enter the market of housing solutions. In the meanwhile, the developed technologies within the process of the project is planned to be launched. Thanks to collaboration between A2A, Whirlpool (a multinational home appliances' manufacturing) and Politecnico di Milano University (First Technical University in Italy), user experiences with the integration system serve as inputs for further refinement, and potential development of the system beneficial for both users and energy providers.