
Iberdrola has announced a major investment of €100 million in the redesign of its electrical distribution network in Valencia, following the severe flooding that impacted the area in late October 2024. The project, named il.lumina, aims to enhance the resiliency and efficiency of the grid to better withstand future extreme weather events while incorporating cutting-edge digitalization technologies.
Mario Ruiz-Tagle, CEO of Iberdrola Spain, alongside Eva Mancera, CEO of i-DE, Iberdrola's distribution company, presented the comprehensive investment plan. The project, which will involve 1,000 workers, is expected to benefit 650,000 customers across the region. The initial phase, which includes the recovery of the 132kV high-voltage infrastructure in Catadau and Carlet, began in late 2024. The company expects to complete 90% of the project by 2025, with full completion scheduled for 2026.
The il.lumina project will include numerous resilience measures such as design changes to assets, new intelligent transformers, and increased automation. Overhead power lines will be buried, and transformer substations will be elevated and compacted. These upgrades are designed to ensure the grid can handle extreme weather conditions and improve the quality of supply.
In addition to improving infrastructure, Iberdrola has introduced measures to minimize disruptions during construction, including night work and advanced outage notifications. The company is also collaborating with local authorities and industry groups to support the restoration of private and public electrical installations affected by the floods.
Iberdrola’s rapid response to the October flooding, which affected around 180,000 customers, restored power within 72 hours, thanks to the mobilization of over 500 workers and the installation of more than 120 generators.
Source: iberdrola.com