We minimise the environmental impact of the electrical grid

We optimise the design of the electrical grid and its components to minimise the environmental impact of electricity consumption

For three years, the OPTIAM initiative has been working to reduce the environmental impact of electrical grid projects and equipment by incorporating eco-design criteria and digitalising decision-making.

• A prospective tool has been developed that evaluates electrical devices and Medium Voltage renewable generation projects with the associated storage.
• Furthermore, the eco-design of five new pieces of equipment for electrical grids by Basque manufacturers has been completed.
• The project has helped strengthen the positioning of manufacturers and engineering companies involved in the deployment of electricity projects.

Tools for the sustainable assessment of electrical equipment and projects

TECNALIA has actively participated in the development of tools for the economic-environmental assessment of equipment for electrical grids and Medium Voltage renewable generation projects with storage.

• Prior to their development, we carried out a detailed technical and economic analysis of large photovoltaic, on-shore wind and storage projects.
• We have also created procedures to extract information from corporate systems, such as inventories and CAD processes, which are fed into environmental assessment tools.
• We have also participated in the evaluation of electrical losses in the equipment targeted by the project, validating the simulation results using finite elements against real physical tests.

Collaboration between companies in the Basque Smart Grid value chain

OPTIAM has promoted technological development through collaboration between companies in the Basque Country's Smart Grid value chain, obtaining advances that strengthen their competitiveness and contribute to the energy transition’s sustainability targets.

Coordinated by Ormazabal, the project has included the participation of Ingeteam, Pronutec, Aclara-Hubbell, General Electric, Equipel and IK Ingeniería, as well as the support of three actors from the Basque Science, Technology and Innovation Network (RVCTI): TECNALIA, Ormazabal Corporate Technology and Ingeteam R&D Europe, BASQUENERGY Cluster, and has been subsidised by the Basque Government through the Hazitek Programme and the European Union's ERDF funds.