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The new substation is the first step towards meeting the new energy transition challenges linked to the industrial activity in the area.
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The technological solution chosen, compact and housed in a building, reduces the environmental impact of the substation and contributes to blending the facility into the environment from a visual standpoint.
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The visit to the facilities was attended by the President of the Regional Government of Valencia, Ximo Puig, who highlighted “the synergies between companies linked to consumption and, above all, the initiative of Red Eléctrica and Iberdrola’s distribution company”.
Red Eléctrica, the Redeia company responsible for the transmission and operation of the national electricity system, and i-DE, the electricity distribution company of the Iberdrola Group, will bring the new 220 kV El Serrallo substation into service imminently, following the completion of the construction work and after having obtained the operating permits for the new infrastructure, which were granted in December.
The new El Serrallo substation was built in response to the need to meet the high growth in consumption demand expected in the El Serrallo industrial estate and, in particular, for two large customers who have industrial activities there: British Petroleum (BP) and UBE.
The new substation is equipped with a 220 kV to 66 kV step-down transformer with a power rating of 125 MV which adapts the voltage of the energy that travels through the transmission grid to the level of the distribution network. The installation of a second transformer is planned for this year to guarantee the reliability and quality of the coverage of Castellón's current and future electricity demand. Furthermore, and associated with this installation, a 66 kV grid development has already been carried out that will enable the interconnection at this voltage level with the Ingenio substation, located on Avenida Hermanos Bou in the city of Castellón.
Mr. Puig expressed his satisfaction regarding the completion of a project “that has required synergies between companies linked to consumption and, above all, the initiative of Red Eléctrica and Iberdrola’s distribution company”. The President of the Regional Government of Valencia emphasised that the infrastructure “will help guarantee the sustainability of the electricity supply both to industry and to the province as a whole, therefore, it is a very important step forward”. Lastly, he stressed the importance of establishing synergies among the Port of Castellón, BP and UBE as well as with other industries such as the ceramics sector.
From Red Eléctrica, the Manager of Investment Projects and Transmission Area, Ramón Granadino, has valued the completion of this project as "another example of the Company's commitment to the future of Castellón’s industry and economy, as well as to the region of Valencia as a whole, through the development of infrastructure that guarantees the dynamic growth of both the economy and industry in the region", and stated that it is “one more step towards the transformation of the region's electricity system, in line with the energy transition, as set out in the 2021-2026 Transmission Grid Planning”.
Additionally, Ana Lafuente, Director of i-DE for the Region of Valencia and Region of Murcia, indicated that the commissioning of this facility "is key to being able to respond to the new challenges that the industrial processes of BP and UBE and the rest of the companies in El Serrallo entail with regard to the energy transition. Moreover, the greater capacity availability at distribution voltage levels will increase the possibility of the socio-economic development in the province".
The project, in its current stage, has involved an investment of €11 million by Red Eléctrica and €7 million by i-DE. The substation has been equipped with advanced technology, using a compact GIS design installed inside a building, thus reducing the environmental impact of the substation and contributing to blending the facility into the environment from a visual standpoint. The substation will be supplied by a new 220 kV double circuit line, 2.5 km in length, which is a mix of overhead and underground power lines, and that will link up with the existing El Ingenio-La Plana line.
The development of this infrastructure is included in the 2021-2026 Transmission Grid Planning document, approved by the Council of Ministers in March 2022, which includes important developments in the transmission infrastructure of the Region of Valencia.