“Grid4Industry is aimed at tackling the challenges of electrification and decarbonisation within the industrial sector”
TECNALIA joins Grid4Industry, a transformative project led by Iberdrola aimed at developing the new digital generation of power grids for industry in the Basque Country
The Grid4Industry initiative is part of the Basque Country Industry Plan 2030 and is aimed at tackling the challenges of electrification and decarbonisation within the industrial sector. The project was launched on 4 June 2026 in Bilbao and brings 62 companies, 29 of which are SMEs, together with members of the Basque Network for Science, Technology and Innovation, within which TECNALIA plays a key role in technological development.
TECNALIA contributes to innovation in smart grids
Grid4Industry is committed to a smarter power grid, capable of integrating energy storage, the automation of medium- and low-voltage networks, and advanced management and cybersecurity tools.
- TECNALIA is providing its expertise in applied research to help speed up the development of solutions for digitalising industrial power grids.
- Our goal is to improve efficiency, flexibility and resilience by helping to integrate new technologies and electrify industrial processes.
Working together to transform the industry
Grid4Industry is based on a public-private collaboration model that brings companies, institutions and knowledge centres together. This partnership will strengthen a strategic value chain for the Basque Country, which currently has a turnover of €30 billion and has created more than 6,000 direct jobs.
- The project is a collaborative environment, where leading research centres will pool their expertise and resources to add significantly more value to the value chain for power grid equipment.
- Grid4Industry is expecting an initial investment of around €41 million and more than €160 million in R&D activities over the next three years, which will help to consolidate an advanced industrial ecosystem linked to the digitalisation of the energy sector.
Impact on employment and competitiveness
The initiative will help create skilled jobs, with more than 500 new direct and indirect roles, thereby strengthening the Basque Country’s position as a technology hub for smart grids.
In the words of José Luis Elejalde, Director of Energy, Climate and Urban Transition at TECNALIA, “For us, our involvement in this is an opportunity to continue to drive industry-oriented innovation and help develop solutions that not only improve the competitiveness of companies, but also facilitate the transition towards a more sustainable energy model”.
The solutions developed as part of the project will be designed and validated in the Basque Country, with a view to expanding into international markets, thereby helping to position the region as a leader in smart grids. Our involvement has allowed us to continue to drive the energy transition and the digital transformation of the electricity infrastructure, helping to build a more sustainable, efficient, competitive energy system.