To evolve existing networks present in a city (electric, gas, water, public lighting and transport), using ICT as enabling technology, may allow a rational use of natural resources (wind and sun), a reduction of consumption (energy efficiency), as well as the evolution of the energy vectors. Grid modernization begins with advanced technology designs, integration, real-time modeling, hardware-in-the-loop analyses and system level validation before implementation. In this framework, the paper describes two microgrid experiences going on at Politecnico di Milano, namely the IoT Lab and the SCUOLA project. The IoT Lab is a multi-department Lab mainly bound to design and test experimentally innovative IoT algorithms and TLC techniques for Smart Home applications. The algorithms designed and tested in this Lab have been practically implemented on field in the SCUOLA project, funded by Regione Lombardia in the framework of the call “SMART CITIES AND COMMUNITIES”. With these initiatives, Politecnico di Milano aims at creating a set of interconnected and interacting labs, that constitute a combined testbed platform for smart functions for optimizing final customers energy profiles in the presence of storage systems.