Cabinet Secretary Jauregi positions the Basque Country as a global leader in electrification

• Basque Cabinet Secretary for Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability, Mikel Jauregi, today presented the flagship Grid4Industry initiative at ENLIT, the international summit uniting 15,000 electricity experts in the Basque Country.
• Grid4Industry stands as a cornerstone of the new Industry Plan - Euskadi 2030, pledging support to the Basque electricity industry as a key player in grid modernisation.
• The project integrates the industrial and technological capacities of the Basque value chain to drive competitiveness and establish the sector as a global benchmark.
• This commitment to modernisation is vital for industrial decarbonisation and positions the Basque Country at the forefront of the energy transition.
• The Industry Plan - Euskadi 2030 designates smart grids as a strategic growth sector, noting strong growth in demand and high technological intensity, aligned with the strategic axes of "more industry, better industry, and fewer emissions".

Earlier today, Cabinet Secretary Jauregi opened the ENLIT Europe international trade fair at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre. Held in Spain for the first time, the event aims to promote electrification and analyse energy transition opportunities.

Speaking at the event, Cabinet Secretary Jauregi stated: "Electricity grids act as the bottleneck for European decarbonisation and reindustrialisation. The Basque Country can and must contribute its industrial and technological capabilities to this challenge of European electrification. It is our duty as a European nation, and an opportunity for industrial and technological development, to generate the quality jobs our future generations demand.”

We are proud of Iberdrola's commitment to developing smart grids alongside its Basque industrial and technological partners. This collaboration secures the Basque Country 's status as a leading player in European and world electrification.”

Launching the Grid4Industry initiative, Cabinet Secretary Jauregi outlined how the project harnesses the technological capabilities of the Basque electricity sector to promote industrial electrification and decarbonisation. Cabinet Secretary Jauregi added: "Grid4Industry is the next step in this collaboration and will have the full support of the Basque Government and our institutional partners.”

The initiative encourages Basque industry to develop new electrical technology and implement it within its own distribution networks, creating a replicable and exportable model in which the Basque Country aims to be a benchmark.

This transformative Grid4Industry project stands as a commitment to the Basque electricity industry as a key player in grid modernisation. As a direct response to the major challenges facing European economies, Grid4Industry delivers more energy with fewer emissions, ensures resilience in an uncertain international context, and capitalises on the wave of innovation redefining electricity grids globally.

By integrating the industrial and technological capacities of the Basque value chain, the project drives competitiveness to cement the sector's global standing.     It aims to modernise and digitalise electricity infrastructures, guaranteeing a system capable of responding to the challenges of decarbonisation.

More than a mere technological update, Grid4Industry is the foundation upon which smart electrification in the Basque Country will be built. Its purpose is to develop, demonstrate, and implement the electricity grid of the future by promoting infrastructure digitalisation, active demand management, medium and low voltage automation, storage integration, and cybersecurity. The aim is to ensure the stability of the electricity system while reducing emissions.

This commitment to modernisation is vital for industrial decarbonisation and positions the Basque Country at the forefront of the energy transition. The impact of Grid4Industry will be critical for the electricity sector and wider industry. It will modernise electricity infrastructure, foster the integration of renewable energies, boost electric mobility, and ensure system resilience against global challenges.

Furthermore, it will generate opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and the creation of skilled jobs, consolidating the Basque Country as a top-level technology hub. Through this initiative, the Basque Country is taking a decisive step towards a cleaner, safer, and more digital energy model. It not only responds to a global need but seizes a historic opportunity to generate wealth, employment, and well-being.

This project forms part of 15 strategic priorities within the Industry Plan - Euskadi 2030, presented by Cabinet Secretary Jauregi last June, aiming to contribute to European reindustrialisation from the Basque Country.

ENLIT: Showcasing Basque industrial capability

The launch of Grid4Industry and the Electric Valley Hub took place at Enlit Europe 2025, the premier international event for the electricity sector. Hosting the event in the Basque Country for the first time, the Bilbao Exhibition Centre welcomes more than 15,000 professionals from 140 countries and over 700 exhibiting companies from 18 to 20 November. Combining a trade fair and congress, the event offers more than 100 presentations and panels on the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition.

The decision to hold Enlit Europe in the Basque Country recognises both the powerful Basque electrical networks and components industry and the Industry Plan - Euskadi 2030, spearheaded by the Department of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability. Hosting this summit at the BEC consolidates the Basque Country as a leading player in global electrification.