3rd June 2015.
On the 3rd June, at the Global Innovation Day organised by Innobasque (#Global2015), Unai Castro presented the work carried out within the Department of Energy on the development of the electricity distribution grids of the future (Smart Grids).
The presentation took place in the series of conferences on Energy and Smart Grids (electricity distribution grids of the future). The panel focused on bringing together future trends of smart grids in Europe in order to identify areas of opportunity for new projects. It also sought to share experiences of the local development of smart grids, and of alliances and collaborations carried out in order to compete on an international level.
In this context, Unai Castro presented the factors of competitiveness that drive change in the electricity sector towards this type of grid, and the challenges and opportunities that are being presented along the way, that lead to the creation of new business models and the development of innovations on a global level. (Download his presentation).
In his presentation he placed special emphasis on the change of the business model that is starting to become apparent in some countries, regarding the value chain of the electricity supply, towards a model focused on the client. In this regard, he noted that “the development of Smart Grids will involve a displacement of roles to levels closer to the distributed generation and the end users". Additionally in his presentation he highlighted that “the agents of the sector (technology companies and utilities) have the necessary capabilities but regulatory uncertainties and the difficulty of access to finance make development difficult”.
Participating in the session alongside him were: Miguel Ángel Sánchez-Fornié, manager of Iberdrola's Control and Telecommunications System; Javier Larrieta, managing director of the Ormazabal Technology Centre; Txaber Lezamiz, head of technological development at EVE; Eduardo Navarro, of Iberdrola, head of deployment and development of the smart grid in Bilbao and Portugalete through Bidelek Sareak, and Estibalitz Aramburu, from Jema Energy. The table was chaired by José Luis Aguiriano, CEO of Oceantec Energías Marinas.
