i-DE, Iberdrola España's distribution company, has identified the development of the electrical networks in the Basque Country as a strategic priority in light of the electrification of the economy

Nearly 300 employees of Iberdrola España's distribution arm are attending the 23rd edition of their Networks business meeting
Javier Arriola, i-DE's director for the Northern Region, chaired the event alongside the heads of the Networks business in Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa and Álava

Smart grids

A man is giving a presentation in a meeting room at Iberdrola. In the background, a screen displays a graphic related to the "3rd Regulatory Period." In the foreground, several Iberdrola employees, dressed in green work clothes, are attentively listening to the presentation.

23rd edition of the i-DE Network Business Meeting in the Basque Country

The Basque Country hosted the XXIII edition of the i-DE Network Business Meeting, the distribution company of Iberdrola Spain. This event brought together nearly 300 employees from the company to analyze the future challenges of the electrical system. Under the motto "The Present is Electric," the meeting was chaired by Javier Arriola, Director of i-DE in the Northern Region, along with the heads of the Network Business in the territories of Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa, and Álava.

During the event, the current energy scenario was addressed, marked by sustained global growth in electricity demand. "The development of data centers, the electrification of industrial processes, and the progress of electric mobility are significantly increasing the supply needs, making it necessary to expand and modernize the transmission and distribution networks," stated Arriola.

In this context, the Director of i-DE in the Northern Region emphasized that the electrification of the economy requires redesigning systems conceived decades ago to adapt them to cities and industrial hubs that require higher levels of flexibility, capacity, and resilience.

It was also highlighted that the energy transition offers significant benefits both for the country and the community, "since we have abundant natural resources such as the 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 storage technologies," emphasized Javier Arriola.

The event also addressed the key role of network digitalization, as well as the application of tools based on artificial intelligence, which will improve service quality and strengthen the ability to anticipate and respond to incidents.

In this framework, i-DE's managers stressed that all growing industries will need more electricity, making it essential to increase investments in networks. "It is necessary to understand the new rules of the game to build the business plan for tackling the new period from 2026 to 2031 with ambition. In this scenario, smart electric networks are the backbone of the energy transition, as they integrate renewable energies and enable the connection of large industrial projects," said Arriola.

Javier Arriola concluded by reaffirming that investing in electrification and modern, resilient networks is an indispensable condition to achieve the decarbonization of the economy, advance in the energy transition, and guarantee a sustainable, competitive, and high-quality future for society.

Over 23,000 kilometers of power lines

In the Basque Country i-DE manages over 23,000 kilometers of power lines, with 11,916 transformer stations in operation and 165 substations. The company maintains an optimal level of service quality for customers in the region, both households and businesses.

In recent years the company has undertaken an ambitious plan to digitise its electrical networks, converting its more than 1.5 million meters in the region and the infrastructure supporting them into smart meters, incorporating remote management, monitoring and automation capabilities.

The digitalisation of the electricity distribution network will provide more data to implement additional energy efficiency and sustainability measures, in line with a commitment to ambitious and urgent climate action. The roll-out of the smart grid enables a response to new patterns of grid usage and offers a better service to the public.

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