What is the problem ? Goal : Realising the EU's 2020 targets on climate and energy

Europe has set itself ambitious energy and and climate change objectives for 2020: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, to increase the share of renewable energy to 20% and to make a 20% improvement in energy efficiency. The Smart Grid could largely support the realisation of these targets, but it is not a reality yet.

Why is EU Action required ? Smart grids are essential for the move to a low carbon economy

A smart grid is an electricity network using digital technology. In addition to electricity flows between suppliers and consumers it delivers information using two-way digital communications.Currently it is uncertain how precisely the smart grid will be implemented. How the environmental benefit from such a smart grid can be optimised needs to be further assessed.

What will the Commission do ?

The Commission will work to ensure:

• that synergies between energy and digital communications infrastructures will be taken into consideration to minimise the economic and emissions costs;
• that the environmental costs and benefits of "smart" functionalities are quantifiable;
• the emergence of an open and competitive market for smart grid technologies, products and services that is not restricted by incompatible data formats or lack of interoperability;

By the end of 2011

• A paper on environmentally-sustainable smart grids.
• Agreed position by energy utility and telecom sectors on communication requirements for infrastructure and future smart grid services, and a standardisation strategy that supports interoperability

Contact:

colette.maloney@ec.europa.eu