Euskadi will be a HUB of digital infrastructures that will strengthen the competitiveness of the Atlantic axis

• Arantxa Tapia, Minister of Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment has highlighted in the interview given this morning to Radio Euskadi that: "To have a Data Centre is to have a place where you can store and manage data nearby. It is important to have them close by so as not to depend on others."
• The infrastructure is expected to be ready in one and a half years, although some services will be activated before that time
• "Renewable energies must go hand in hand with developments such as the Data Centre. Our productive fabric and citizens need energy that is close by, sustainable and affordable"

The Minister of Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment, Arantxa Tapia, gave an interview to Radio Euskadi this morning in which she highlighted the importance of the digital infrastructures hub that will strengthen the competitiveness of the Atlantic axis from Euskadi:

"To have a Data Centre is to have a place where you can store and manage data nearby. Otherwise we would depend on others, so it is important to have them close by.

Arantxa Tapia recalled the privileged position of the Basque Country in this point, since the submarine cables that connect the United States with Europe reach Bizkaia: "It's a competitive advantage that we have to make good use of. In one and a half years we want to have this infrastructure up and running, although some of the services are already being provided from the small data centre of Euskaltel, which is one of the project partners."

Renewables

The Minister, Tapia, recalled that "when we talk about data, about everything we need in our lives today, telephones, computers, we are also talking about energy. And for all this to be sustainable, the energy we have to use must also be sustainable. Energy is required to start up these infrastructures and the Basque Country must also provide a clear response."

Saitec's infrastructure at the Armintza wind turbine is relevant because it is on a floating platform: "On our coast the seabed drops steeply and floating platforms are required. From this standpoint, the Armintza wind turbine will allow us to evaluate whether this technology can be used on our coast.

There are also onshore applications for wind and photovoltaic farms that have to be evaluated based on wind and sun resources, which must be able to be installed with all environmental guarantees and allow for an energy evacuation process. Right now we are able to meet these three objectives in the two wind farms planned by Aizeindar in Araba."

The Minister concluded by recalling "that one year ago we were talking about an energy competence plan due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. We must reach a level of energy self-sufficiency that guarantees the basic services we need. Also taking into account climate change. With current gas prices, we are once again aware of our vulnerability: our productive fabric and our citizens need nearby, sustainable and affordable energy."