I-DE, Iberdrola España's distribution company, commissions first power connections from the new Plaza España substation
- The commissioned connections supply distribution centres located on Madrid's Gran Vía, Montera and Segovia streets
- With these new connections, the company has improved the quality of supply for customers in the surrounding area
I-DE, Iberdrola España's distributor, has commissioned the first connections supplying distribution centres from the new substation that the company built in the Plaza España underground passages.
This substation, whose purpose is to transform the voltage from the main’s 132kV to the distribution grid’s 15kV, will supply 26 distribution centres at strategic locations throughout the capital.
The so-called ‘connection circuits’ run along the most important streets of Madrid, linking the Plaza España substation with the distribution centres.
The connectors that came into service in December supply the distribution centres located on Montera, Gran Vía and Segovia. In 2026, other iconic areas such as Paseo del Prado and Mayor will follow suit.
Thanks to these new power connections, the company is able to improve the quality of supply to customers in the vicinity of those areas, which, in this case, include some of Spain's most emblematic theatres, shops, churches, fountains and hotels. All of these places require additional electricity at Christmas due to holiday lights and decorations.
Project challenges
The permitting and paperwork for the work done in this project was particularly complicated due to the different administrations involved in such unique areas.
Executing the work was also extremely difficult, as it had to be carried out alongside the daily flow of pedestrians and vehicles in the capital’s downtown area, without compromising on the company's high standards of safety at work.
Another challenge while executing these works was replacing the materials on the pavement where the pipes were being laid, such as the heavy granite slabs in Plaza de España or the unique historic cobblestones on Cuesta de la Vega, which are also located close to Madrid's old Arab wall. All materials are pulled up carefully so that they could be reused as much as possible.
