Zorrotzaurre project in Bilbao
Zorrotzaurre − Iberdrola's initiative to achieve the first-ever zero emissions district in Bilbao
Energy efficiency Basque Country
As part of its global strategy to achieve a zero emissions future, Iberdrola is committed to making the island of Zorrotzaurre (Bilbao) a benchmark of an urban district involved in decarbonising the economy, through the implementation of smart solutions for electric mobility, self-consumption, storage, air conditioning and smart grids.
The project to convert Zorrotzaurre into an emission-free district is part of the European initiative ATELIER, supported by the EU Horizon 2020 programme.
Zorrotzaurre − a smart island with zero emissions
Iberdrola is involved in the project led by the Bilbao City Council to make the island of Zorrotzaurre a smart district with zero emissions. With an investment of €20 million, the company aims to develop and manage the district's smart grids and provide smart solutions for electric mobility, self-consumption, storage and air conditioning, as well as monitoring tools for private and industrial customers.
The Group plans to install photovoltaic panels for self-consumption at eight locations on the island, deploy charging points for electric vehicles on public roads and optimise residential chargers, as well as create personalised services for its customers. One of the next steps will be the construction of a 132 kW substation to meet the needs of the new energy demand.
A series of new technologies related to renewable energy generation, smart metering, grid supervision and digital management of all services will be implemented in Zorrotzaurre, which will allow these solutions to be tested in a real environment with real customers. In this sense, the initiative hopes to turn this 2.5 kilometre long island and 230,000 m² of land into a living laboratory in the centre of Bilbao.
The proposal in Zorrotzaurre represents a unique opportunity to develop something new in Bilbao and create a flagship project for the city, with an impact similar to that of the Guggenheim Museum. However, there are still obstacles to overcome − the main challenge being the lack of investment in grids. For this, certainty, predictability and good profitability are needed, which are key elements to achieve the energy transition in the region
In the future, Zorrotzaurre is expected to be a zero emission island designed for different uses by the local population − from the development of economic activities to leisure to enjoy Bilbao's culture. In short, this is an example of the new initiatives related to renewables that the Basques are developing in the coming years, not only in Bilbao but throughout the Basque Country.
Content originally produced by the Financial Times and published here.