I-DE, Iberdrola España’s distribution company, highlights smart grid modernisation as a strategic driver for electrifying the economy at conference in Toledo

Iberdrola España’s distribution company brought together more than 100 professionals in Toledo for its biannual Networks business meeting
The strong performance and coordination of i-DE teams in responding to recent storms affecting the autonomous community were recognised

Smart grids

23rd edition of the annual meeting of the i-DE smart grids business in Toledo

The city of Toledo, in central Spain, hosted the 23rd edition of the biannual smart grid business meeting of i-DE Redes Eléctricas Inteligentes, Iberdrola España’s electricity distribution company. The event brought together more than 100 employees under the theme “The Present is Electric” to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the sector’s future.

The conference was chaired by María Martínez, i-DE’s Central Region Director, and Pablo Caramés, Head of Network Operations in Castilla-La Mancha. Discussions focused on the current energy landscape, characterised by sustained global growth in electricity demand. In Spain, this trend is reflected in the rising number of grid connection requests, a dynamic that is equally evident in Castilla-La Mancha.

According to i-DE, the expansion of data centres, the electrification of industrial processes and the continued growth of electric mobility are significantly increasing electricity demand. This evolving scenario requires the expansion and modernisation of transmission and distribution networks to ensure capacity, flexibility and resilience.

Electrifying the economy entails redesigning systems originally conceived decades ago so they can meet the needs of today’s cities and industrial hubs, which demand greater operational flexibility, enhanced capacity and stronger resilience standards.

The importance of sector-wide collaboration in accelerating electrification was also underlined. Over the past year, i-DE has participated in more than 45 events nationwide and organised more than 30 technical conferences for electrical installers, several of them in Castilla-La Mancha. These initiatives demonstrate that cooperation across the energy ecosystem — involving suppliers, installers and customers — is essential to advancing the energy transition and facilitating the deployment of new solutions. Through coordinated efforts built on mutual trust, the company has helped strengthen a more robust and future-ready electrification ecosystem.

Regional managers emphasised that “digitalisation and the deployment of artificial intelligence-based tools will help enhance service quality and strengthen our ability to anticipate and manage incidents.”

Coordinated response to recent storms

During the meeting, Martínez and Caramés also commended the outstanding work and coordination demonstrated by i-DE teams in responding to the series of storms that have recently affected Castilla-La Mancha and other parts of Spain. Incidents were managed with speed and diligence, ensuring service continuity and minimising disruption for customers.

The conference highlighted the il·lumina project as a benchmark example of the organisation’s capacity to respond effectively to extreme events. Following a major weather-related incident, the project demonstrated that rapid, orderly and resilient reconstruction is achievable through strong team coordination, forward planning and the implementation of best practices. The initiative has since become an internal reference model, reinforcing the importance of preparedness, agile emergency management and forward-looking resilience criteria to strengthen the network and ensure improved service for citizens.

26,000 km of power lines in Castilla-La Mancha

In Castilla-La Mancha, i-DE manages more than 26,000 kilometres of low- and medium-voltage lines and approximately 2,600 kilometres of high- and very high-voltage lines. The company also operates 9,600 transformer substations and 76 distribution substations, serving both residential and business customers.

Thanks to this infrastructure, i-DE operates a modern, digitalised electricity network in the region, prepared to meet the growing demands and challenges associated with the electrification of the economy in Castilla-La Mancha.

The company concluded by reiterating that electrification represents an effective pathway toward a more sustainable future. Positioning electricity as the primary energy source supports greater efficiency, cost optimisation and improved quality of life.

I-DE, Iberdrola España’s distribution company, highlights smart grid modernisation as a strategic driver for electrifying the economy at conference in Toledo

I-DE, Iberdrola España’s distribution company, highlights smart grid modernisation as a strategic driver for electrifying the economy at conference in Toledo

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