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i-DE, Iberdrola España's distribution company, and the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa strengthen their commitment to energy communities with a collaboration agreement
- The agreement between the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa’s Department of Sustainability and Iberdrola España's distribution company will promote shared self-consumption and the energy transition in the area
- Today, the area already has 60 local energy communities in operation in 55 municipalities, serving more than 10,000 families
The Department of Sustainability of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa and i-DE, Iberdrola España's distribution company, signed a collaboration agreement this morning in San Sebastian to deploy and integrate local energy communities and shared self-consumption facilities in the area.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Sustainability deputy, José Ignacio Asensio, and the head of i-DE in Gipuzkoa, Iker Urrutia.
This agreement represents a step forward in Gipuzkoa's commitment to the energy transition by establishing a stable framework for collaboration between the provincial administration and the main electricity distributor in the area to develop a more democratic, sustainable and resilient energy model.
In his speech, the deputy for Sustainability, José Ignacio Asensio, stressed that ‘this agreement is an example of public–private collaboration at the service of the general interest. With it, we are taking another step towards democratising energy and making it more accessible and sustainable. Gipuzkoa is already a benchmark in sustainability and energy transition, and we want it to continue to be so, promoting a model based on self-consumption, shared generation of renewable energy and community participation’.
He added that ‘energy communities allow people to produce and consume their own energy, reducing dependence on external sources, earning them savings on their electricity bills and moving towards a fairer, more efficient and sustainable system. Our goal is that by 2027 all municipalities in the area will have at least one energy community’.
The head of i-DE in Gipuzkoa, Iker Urrutia, stated that ‘ this agreement is another example of i-DE's role as a facilitator of the energy transition and electrification, as well as its interest in increasing renewable energy’s penetration and empowering customers in the electricity market. Gipuzkoa already has more than 700 self-consumption installations connected to our grid, 240 of which are collective, allowing thousands of citizens to make use of clean energy’. He also stressed ‘the importance of public–private collaboration, and the company's efforts to work closely with public administrations to contribute to the growth and even development of the territories in which it operates’.
Promoting renewable energy from Gipuzkoa
The aim is to promote the development of self-consumption projects and energy communities that allow people, companies and administrations to generate, consume and share renewable energy, encouraging society to actively involve itself in the new energy model.
Gipuzkoa is undergoing a transformation in its energy culture, a process that requires the active participation of society as a whole. The creation of energy communities puts people at the centre of this process, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to generate and consume their own renewable energy, while also saving money on their electricity bills. As of today, the area already has 60 local energy communities in operation in 55 municipalities, bringing together more than 10,000 families.
The Provincial Council is committed to fostering the creation of energy communities, sharing best practices, generating useful knowledge and evaluating impact with key indicators. It will also work to adapt regulations to the real needs of the deployment of these initiatives and will promote innovation with technical and social experts.
For its part, i-DE will provide information, in accordance with the regulations in force, for the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council to take decisions on the deployment of energy communities, resolve the technical conditions for access and connection by the legal deadlines and propose improvements in the operating protocols that facilitate the integration of renewable energies. It will also set up specific channels of dialogue for this type of project.
Monitoring and standing committee
The agreement will be valid for an initial period of one year, extendable for up to two additional. In addition, a joint Monitoring Committee will be set up to ensure the correct development of the agreement, establish the annual actions and resolve any possible conflicts of interpretation.
With this strategic partnership, Gipuzkoa strengthens its leadership in the fight against climate change and the implementation of innovative energy models at the service of people and the area.
