Over the past five years, the Iberdrola Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub has grown rapidly, reaching a point where a distinct identity — the “GSGIH brand”— was established at the end of 2023. This brand serves as a mark of excellence for products developed within the Hub. As part of this effort, AENOR now awards a specific certification that recognises data-related equipment and solutions created in the Hub and successfully deployed in real network operations. At present, 13 products on the market carry this certification, representing contributions from 18 different manufacturers.
The Hub plans to expand this portfolio to 20 certified products by the end of 2026, working closely with partners and suppliers, many of which are located in Bizkaia. The ENLIT trade fair held in Bizkaia in November provided an ideal platform for the Hub’s partners to showcase the certification seal to the international electricity sector, highlighting the region’s growing role in the global smart grid industry.
Iberdrola and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia have also renewed their collaboration agreement, reinforcing a shared vision of technology as a key driver for economic electrification, industrial competitiveness and high-quality job creation. Their joint work focuses on innovation in equipment design, data products, systems, and telecommunications networks that expand the capacity of electricity distribution grids to meet rising demand. This partnership also supports the continued integration of renewable energy sources and the development of a safer, more reliable and resilient power network capable of addressing challenges such as climate change and cybersecurity.
The Hub’s fifth anniversary in 2026 coincides with Iberdrola’s 125th anniversary—marking over a century of business evolution, continuous adaptation, and commitment to efficiency, environmental performance and customer service. Today, the modernisation of electricity networks is recognised by institutions worldwide as essential to the future of the energy system. Establishing the Innovation Hub in Bilbao reflects Iberdrola and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia’s long-term commitment to fostering collaborative innovation and contributing to society—both now and for the next 125 years.
To commemorate this milestone, Iberdrola has launched the website 125.iberdrola.com, also accessible via its corporate site. The platform provides information about anniversary events and offers a wide collection of audiovisual content featuring the people who have shaped Iberdrola’s history and are driving its future. Through these personal stories, the site illustrates the company’s impact on communities and its contribution to creating a more equitable, supportive and sustainable world, built around an energy model that is efficient, secure, innovative, competitive and increasingly self-sufficient.
Another outcome of the strong partnership between Iberdrola and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia is the creation of the Smart Grids Academy (SGA). This initiative forms part of the Council’s “Bizkaia with Talent” strategy and is designed to provide ongoing, specialised technological training to energy professionals across the country, including those working with smart grid solutions. The Global Smart Grids Academy represents a forward-looking commitment to developing the smart grid workforce of the future. Supported jointly by Iberdrola and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, it plays a foundational role in shaping a transformative national project aligned with the Basque Country’s Industry Plan 2030.
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