Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub

Iberdrola's Networks Business, through the Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub (GSGIH), has created an ecosystem to promote innovation, developing talent through collaboration with universities, offering opportunities to students and preparing the professionals of the future.

The initiative brings together the innovative potential of more than 200 professionals in the development of R&D&I projects related to the challenges of the electricity grids of the future, including greater digitalisation, the processing of the data generated by these infrastructures and the response, in terms of robustness and flexibility, of the electricity grid to new consumption models, such as electric mobility and self-consumption.

In addition, the centre is established as a market-oriented collaborative technology space, where the best international talent will always be in contact with suppliers, start-ups and universities to stimulate their industrial capacity and accelerate innovation processes.

Mission: Lead the energy transition

Iberdrola wants to remain at the forefront of the energy transition by developing new business and technological models in distribution grids. The electricity system is undergoing an unprecedented transformation and the grids have become a cornerstone of the energy revolution; an essential platform for moving towards a decarbonised economy, which favours the development of an electricity system with more renewable sources, sustainable mobility, smart cities and self-consumption.

With the creation of the Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub, the group aims to double the number of smart grid innovation projects in smart grids, consolidating and expanding the current successful collaboration model with electrical equipment manufacturers. To this end, the company has identified from the beginning more than 120 projects for future development worth 130 million euros.

Since this hub was launched, R&D&I projects have been registered for a total estimated investment of 42 million euros in Iberdrola Redes España. In addition, agreements have been reached with a 100 technology partners for the development of grid digitalisation solutions, integration of renewables, deployment of electric vehicles and energy storage systems.

Proof of its relevance is the visit made by the European Technology and Innovation Platform for Smart Grids for Energy Transition (ETIP SNET) to carry out one of its  Workshops, specifically the Western Region Workshop, which was attended by  participants from France, Ireland, Portugal and the United Kingdom. These workshops, held in close collaboration with experts from the European Commission, aim to identify unresolved research and innovation (R&I) issues and monitor the implementation of R&I activities at national and regional level within th e EU, ensuring coherence between national and European viewpoints and stimulating knowledge exchange between participants. 

Strategic lines of the Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub

Provide new equipment for network infrastructures that enable the development of digital processes to offer the best service to our customers.

Maintain the efficiency of distribution networks by integrating technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality and digital twins into distribution processes.

Include new functionalities in facilities that improve worker safety with the use of robots and drones.

To provide the grid with the connection of new solutions that enable flexible operation and support the electrification of the economy.

Protection of fauna and flora to seek a balance between the coexistence of infrastructures and environmental sustainability.

Support an innovative technological fabric that helps to increase the resilience and security of the network.

We are promoting the development of the smart grids of the future

The activity of the centre will be structured around three main areas:

Technological activity

This is the main one, defined and led by Iberdrola to strengthen its current and future knowledge and positioning in smart grids. Four strategic lines stand out within this activity

Non-technological activity

To make the most of the local ecosystem and take advantage of future opportunities at global level. This includes scholarship, incubation and acceleration programmes and agreements with local academic institutions and global benchmarks.

Management

Control and visibility of all activities, budget control, synergies and collaborations with technological partners and Basque institutions, etc.

Start-Up challenges: Boosting collaboration with startups

One of the main features of this new hub is the collaboration with startups from around the world. Amongst other initiatives, the company has already launched four international challenges aimed at finding innovative solutions related to the area of networks.

 SEE INFOGRAPHIC: Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub: world centre for smart grid innovation [PDF]

More than 1,000 m² to become a global benchmark for innovation 

The innovation hub occupies more than 1,000 m² at the headquarters of Iberdrola's Networks business, located in José Ignacio Berroeta Corporate Center (Bilbao), and has five laboratories for testing and speeding up developments, as well as a project development room and a creative development room, individual workstations and a coworking area, and an amphitheatre for presentations and training.

The GSGIH has the collaboration of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, which will facilitate interaction with a dynamic, innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem. It is also connected to the Biscay Startup Bay strategy, as it will also become a scale-up location for start-ups in the energy sector that set up in the Torre Bizkaia.

Smart Grids Academy

The Smart Grids Academy was created to foster talent among young people and ensure that smart grids help energy transition. For this reason, the project has a training methodology that combines onsite training, through master classes and collaborative projects at the Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub (GSGIH), with online training, through a comprehensive technological platform of the smart grid ecosystem.

The platform also provides each user a different learning pathway, always according to their knowledge and skills profile. The pathways may vary in length and depth in order to be aligned with different educational/professional backgrounds and role levels. It is intended both for collaborating companies and professionals and students who want to work in smart grids. The project is expected to be operational by October 2024.

The training program will cover the basics of smart grids. The learners will learn how to monitor and measure with new systems, as well as more about automated control and how communications are used in these types of grids. They will also learn about regulations, cybersecurity and how to analyse and manage the data received.

Inauguration of the centre

The Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub was launched in October 2021 at a ceremony attended by the Chairman of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galán, and the Deputy General of Bizkaia, Unai Rementeria. During the event, Galán stated that "we understood before anyone else that our commitment to decarbonisation could only be a winner if we digitalised the electricity grids" and recalled that half of the 150 billion euros in the company's investment plan to 2030 will be allocated to the grids.

That same year, King Felipe VI met with the GSGIH collaborating companies, accompanied by the Basque Premier Iñigo Urkullu, the Vice-President of the Government Nadia Calviño, the Deputy General of Bizkaia Unai Rementeria, the Mayor of Bilbao Juan Mª Aburto and Ignacio Galán. The King was interested in the different projects, as well as in the development of smart grids, their sustainability, efficiency and how they will affect the quality of services.