Iberdrola España installs world-leading infrastructure at the Quart de Poblet substation (Valencia)
- The company has installed its first two 66-kilovolt Integrated High-Voltage Assemblies (CIAT) worldwide at the Llanos de Quart substation, which was affected by the cold drop
- The new equipment, each weighing more than 31 tonnes and occupying an area of 40 m², will enable a more compact, modern and resilient installation
- The project forms part of the il·lumina plan, through which Iberdrola España is investing €100 million to develop the electricity network of the future in the area
Iberdrola España is transforming the Llanos de Quart substation, located in the Quart de Poblet industrial estate (Valencia) next to the A-3 motorway. The facility was severely damaged by the cold drop, and the upgrade incorporates pioneering technology at a global level.
The works include raising the entire platform on which the new infrastructure is being installed by more than 1.5 metres. The substation will adopt a compact design, representing both a technical and structural improvement that converts a traditional outdoor electrical substation into a smaller, more efficient and modern facility, part of which will be housed in prefabricated modules.
At the core of this transformation are the new 66-kilovolt Integrated High-Voltage Assemblies (CIAT). Each unit weighs more than 30 tonnes and occupies approximately 40 m². These are the first CIATs installed by the company worldwide and are based on pioneering technology that integrates the switching equipment within the structure itself, creating a more orderly environment with reduced visual impact.
Ayesa Martínez, Head of Project Engineering at Iberdrola España, highlighted that compacting the substation through the new Integrated High-Voltage Centres “will allow us to develop a much more compact infrastructure, with greater capacity for future expansions, as space is freed up within the site thanks to the use of this pioneering technology.”
Ignacio García Bosch
Head of the il·lumina plan
According to Ignacio García Bosch, Head of the il·lumina plan, “the project currently under way at the Llanos de Quart substation involves an investment of more than €7 million and incorporates the most advanced digitalisation standards, delivering benefits to users in the industrial estate and nearby towns.”
García Bosch also emphasised that the new CIATs are built on elevated foundations, “which increases resilience to the effects of potential cold drop events, as the most sensitive components are located around two metres above the original ground level and protected inside the building.”
In addition, Iberdrola España has installed two new transformers and is reconfiguring the 66 kV system, measures that will further improve the reliability of the electricity supply.
il·lumina plan: €100 million for the smart grid affected by the cold drop
The transformation of the Llanos de Quart substation forms part of the il·lumina plan, through which Iberdrola España is investing €100 million to redesign the smart grid affected by the cold drop and to create a future-ready network incorporating enhanced resilience and digitalisation measures.
To deliver this plan, the company has assembled a dedicated team of 35 professionals working exclusively on the project, supported by around 1,000 workers from contractor companies, mainly from the local area. Overall, these actions will benefit more than 650,000 users in the region.
Furthermore, Iberdrola España is carrying out most of the works without interrupting the electricity supply to customers, implementing special solutions such as the installation of backup generators to minimise disruption. The company is also enhancing its notification systems to provide clearer and more effective information about scheduled power outages.
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