I-DE, Iberdrola España’s distribution company, positions the development of electricity networks in Castilla y León as a strategic priority in response to the electrification of the economy

More than 400 employees of Iberdrola España’s distribution company took part in the 23rd edition of its Networks business meeting
The event was chaired by the director of i-DE in Castilla y León, Óscar Villanueva, together with the heads of the Network Business in Ávila, Burgos, León, Palencia, Salamanca, Soria, Valladolid and Zamora

Smart grids

i-DE meeting in Castile and León

Castilla y León hosted the 23rd edition of the Networks business meeting of i-DE, Iberdrola España’s distribution company, bringing together more than 400 employees to analyse the future challenges facing the electricity system. Under the theme “The Present is Electric”, the meeting was chaired by the director of i-DE in the region, Óscar Villanueva, together with the heads of the Network Business in the provinces of Ávila, Burgos, León, Palencia, Salamanca, Soria, Valladolid and Zamora.

During the event, participants analysed the current energy landscape, characterised by sustained growth in electricity demand worldwide. “The development of data centres, the electrification of industrial processes and the expansion of electric mobility are significantly increasing electricity demand, making it necessary to expand and modernise both transmission and distribution networks,” Villanueva explained.

In this context, he stressed that electrifying the economy requires redesigning systems originally conceived decades ago so that they can support cities and industrial hubs requiring greater flexibility, capacity and resilience.

Villanueva also emphasised that the energy transition offers significant benefits for both the country and the region: “We have abundant natural resources such as sun, wind and water, which are essential for generating clean and competitive energy. It is crucial to harness these resources through the deployment of renewable and energy storage technologies.”

The meeting also addressed the key role of network digitalisation and the application of artificial intelligence-based tools, which will improve service quality and strengthen the ability to anticipate and respond to incidents.

In this context, i-DE representatives emphasised that all growing industries will require more electricity, making increased investment in networks essential. “We must understand the new rules of the game in order to build a business plan capable of addressing the 2026-2031 period with ambition. In this scenario, smart electricity grids are the backbone of the energy transition, as they integrate renewable energy and enable the connection of major industrial projects,” Villanueva said.

He concluded by reaffirming that commitment to electrification and to modern, resilient networks is essential for achieving the decarbonisation of the economy, advancing the energy transition and ensuring a sustainable, competitive and high-quality future for society.

More than 50,000 km of power lines

In Castilla y León, i-DE manages more than 50,000 km of electricity lines, operates 15,697 distribution transformer substations, and 246 substations.

In recent years, the company has implemented an ambitious grid digitalisation programme, converting more than 1.5 million meters in the region and the infrastructure supporting them into smart systems with remote management, monitoring and automation capabilities.

The digitalisation of the electricity distribution network will provide greater data availability, enabling the implementation of additional energy efficiency and sustainability measures in line with a commitment to ambitious and urgent climate action. The deployment of smart grids also enables new models of network use and improves the quality of service provided to citizens.

I-DE, Iberdrola España’s distribution company, positions the development of electricity networks in Castilla y León as a strategic priority in response to the electrification of the economy

I-DE, Iberdrola España’s distribution company, positions the development of electricity networks in Castilla y León as a strategic priority in response to the electrification of the economy

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