Iberdrola España’s Global Smart Grid Hub and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia are celebrating their fifth anniversary with more than 120 partner companies and organisations

The Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub (GSGIH), based in Bilbao, is establishing itself as a world-leading centre for innovation and expertise in smart grids
The celebration of five years of success for the Hub, a joint initiative between Iberdrola España and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, which acts as a technological driving force between companies and collaborating organisations, coincides with the 125th anniversary of the Iberdrola Group, of which Iberdrola España is a part
Investment in innovation at Iberdrola’s distribution arm, i-DE, has grown by 55%, reaching over 40 million euros annually

Smart Grids

The event took place at the Berroeta Corporate Centre in Bilbao and was attended by the Deputy General of Bizkaia, Elixabete Etxanobe; Mario Ruiz-Tagle, CEO of Iberdrola Spain; Asís Canales, the company’s institutional representative; and other representatives from Iberdrola España and i-DE.

The Provincial Council of Bizkaia and Iberdrola España today celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub (GSGIH) in Bilbao.

GSGIH is a public-private collaborative working environment between the electricity company and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, based in Bilbao and launched in 2021, which connects both parties with suppliers, start-ups, technology centres and universities, with the aim of using innovation as a lever to continue driving the electrification of the economy and improving the quality of service for customers connected to the grids, through solutions that strengthen their robustness, resilience, flexibility and security.

The event, held at the Berroeta Corporate Centre in Bilbao, was attended by the President of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, Elixabete Etxanobe; Mario Ruiz-Tagle, CEO of Iberdrola Spain; Asís Canales, the company’s institutional representative; Ainara Basurko and Itxaso Berrojalbiz, councillors for Economic Development and Finance respectively at the Provincial Council of Bizkaia; Eva Mancera, CEO of Iberdrola España’s i-DE Smart Grids; Javier Arriola, Director of the Northern Region at i-DE; and Estibaliz Goñi, Director of Processes and Technology at i-DE.

Since the Hub was established five years ago, i-DE’s investment in innovation has grown by 55% compared to the previous period, exceeding 40 million euros annually, contributing to the region’s competitiveness by driving the value chain and reinforcing Iberdrola’s position as the world’s leading utility in terms of R&D&I investment. Since its creation, the Hub has received more than 9,000 visits, giving visitors the opportunity to learn about the networks, understand their importance in the electrification of the economy and see the positive impact of public-private collaboration. Over the past five years, the GSGIH has brought together more than 120 partner organisations and companies. These include more than 10 universities, 10 technology centres, over 25 start-ups and 45 leading companies in the sector.

For the Deputy General of Bizkaia, Elixabete Etxanobe, this celebration represents “five years of work and progress, but above all five years in which Bizkaia has decided to position itself at the forefront of the energy transition. We are celebrating much more than an anniversary. We are celebrating a way of shaping and building Bizkaia’s future based on ambition, collaboration and the ability to anticipate challenges”. Etxanobe emphasised that “the war in the Middle East has reminded us of something essential: energy is not just a resource; it is a strategic issue. In this context, there is one indisputable certainty: without smart grids, there can be no energy transition. Without modern grids, there is no energy independence. There is no competitiveness. And there is no security”.

Asís Canales, president of i-DE and the company’s institutional representative in the Basque Country, noted that “in a particularly significant year for Iberdrola, as we mark 125 years of history, the fifth anniversary of the Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub confirms that collaboration between companies and institutions is key to creating a global benchmark in electricity grid innovation”. “From Bizkaia, this ecosystem is bringing solutions to the world that reinforce smarter, more resilient and safer grids, which are fundamental to advancing the electrification of the economy.”

During the anniversary event, the Bizkaia Smart Grids Awards were presented to boost the competitiveness of businesses and entrepreneurs in the region. The Bizkaia Smart Grids Awards aim to recognise those R&D&I projects that generate new ideas, seek out the best methods and technologies, refine processes and create new knowledge that strengthens companies’ operations. All this takes place within a favourable environment in Bizkaia, featuring highly advanced fiscal tools that reinforce the capacity for foresight, resilience and competitiveness in the face of future challenges, enabling the development of products, processes and services that will accelerate the energy transition.

Over the past five years, the Hub has grown to such an extent that, by the end of 2023, the ‘GSGIH brand’ was created as a mark of excellence. This has led to the ‘Product developed at the GSG Innovation Hub’ certification being awarded by AENOR, as a way of recognising those data equipment or products developed within the Hub and effectively implemented as network solutions. There are currently 13 products on the market bearing this seal, representing 18 manufacturers. The Hub aims to have 20 certified products by the end of 2026, developed in collaboration with suppliers, many of whom are based in Bizkaia. The ENLIT trade fair held in Bizkaia last November provided the perfect showcase for the Hub’s partners to present their seal to the international electricity sector.

Iberdrola España and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia have recently renewed the agreement that reinforces both parties’ commitment to technology as a lever for the electrification of the economy, industrial competitiveness and the creation of quality jobs, through innovation focused on equipment design, data products, systems and telecommunications networks that enable the distribution network’s capacity to be scaled up to meet growing demand. Furthermore, it aims to continue integrating renewable energies and building a safer, more reliable and resilient network, capable of tackling the challenges of climate change and cybersecurity.

Iberdrola España’s Global Smart Grid Hub and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia are celebrating their fifth anniversary with more than 120 partner companies and organisations

We are celebrating 125 years together

Iberdrola España’s Global Smart Grid Hub and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia are celebrating their fifth anniversary with more than 120 partner companies and organisations

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