Merindades substation in Burgos will be the most sustainable in Spain

i-DE, Iberdrola's distribution company, and Siemens Smart Infrastructure are furthering their commitment to promoting sustainability and contributing to the fight against climate change with the installation for the first time in Spain of a new F-gas-free technology at the Merindades transformer substation in Burgos.

The innovative Clean Air solution from the Siemens Blue product portfolio, which consists exclusively of natural elements, is environmentally friendly, offers easy recycling at the end of its service life and significantly improves the sustainability of the system by replacing fluorinated gases.

Also, with a Global warming potential of less than one, these Siemens NXPLUS C 24 medium-voltage switchboards retain the advantages of gas-insulated switchgear, such as simple and safe operation during operation and compact size.

"In the time of change and uncertainty that we are experiencing, it is necessary to have a well-defined strategy that allows us to obtain clear results in relation to the climate crisis and sustainability strategy, and to act decisively, accelerating commitments", stressed Javier Vázquez, director of Processes and Technology at i-DE of the Iberdrola group.

"With our Blue GIS portfolio, we are supporting Iberdrola in implementing its sustainability strategy while contributing to the energy transition in Spain," said Stephan May, CEO of the Electrification and Automation Business Unit at Siemens Smart Infrastructure. "At Siemens, we create purpose-driven technologies designed to enable our customers to achieve their business and sustainability goals."

With an investment of €2.4 million, i-DE is making progress in the construction of this important infrastructure that will supply power to more than 10,000 customers and cover the needs of the most important industries in the Villarcayo industrial estate. Furthermore, with this substation, Iberdrola's distribution company is ahead of the legal requirements recently published by the European authorities in relation to the regulation of fluorinated gases.

Care and protection of the environment, a priority for Iberdrola

Iberdrola is today a global energy leader, the leading wind power producer and one of the largest electricity companies by market capitalisation in the world that aims to be carbon neutral in Europe by 2030. To achieve this goal, it is systematically implementing its sustainable and environmentally friendly business model.

Care and protection of the environment is a priority included in the Iberdrola group's Environmental Policy, which is assumed and promoted by i-DE so that all levels of the organisation integrate consideration and respect for the environment into the planning and development of its activities.

This policy is set out in a series of strategic environmental guidelines, known as Environmental Guidelines, which indicate the priorities for implementation with the aim of minimising the environmental footprint.

A robust, flexible and digitised electricity network

The transformation of the grids into a robust, flexible and intelligent infrastructure makes it possible to respond to the challenges of the electrification of the electricity system, with greater integration of renewables, the development of sustainable mobility, smart cities and decentralised consumption (self-consumption) and a consumer with greater decision-making capacity and connectivity.

In Castilla y León, i-DE manages more than 43,707 km of low and medium voltage lines and more than 6,410 km of high and very high voltage lines. It also has 15,658 transformation centres in service and 246 primary and secondary substations. The company maintains a level of service quality in the region above the national average, with the best year-end value in history.

In recent years, i-DE has implemented an ambitious plan to digitalise its electricity grids which, in Castilla y León, has converted its more than 1.5 million meters and the infrastructure that supports them into smart meters with remote management, supervision and automation capabilities.

In Castilla y León, the company will continue to promote its electricity grid infrastructures, which are key to guaranteeing the transition to a carbon-free economy. Through its distribution company i-DE, Iberdrola plans to increase investment by 28% to 337 million euros between 2022 and 2024. These grid investments, according to PNIEC estimates, could generate up to 3,300 jobs in the region.