SDI, the distribution arm of the Iberdrola group, is allocating 5.4 million euros to build a new transformer hub and related connectivity infrastructure. The aim is to reinforce electricity transformation and reliability for La Vila Joiosa and nearby towns, delivering improved service to the local area and its surroundings.
The installation will house two 40 MVA transformers and 16 outputs for medium voltage lines. The project targets a 2024 in-service date. A cutting‑edge gas‑insulated switchgear system will be installed at the site to raise operational efficiency. Some components will be placed inside the building, reducing required space compared with traditional facilities.
The principal objective is to provide Marina Baixa with a new substation that raises supply quality for La Vila Joiosa and neighboring municipalities, ensuring stronger service guarantees for about 50,000 customers.
Until now, all energy reaching La Vila has originated from the Benidorm substation, making this new facility essential for the city’s growth and dependable power delivery as outlined by Iberdrola’s planning documents (Iberdrola, 2023).
The project is planned for a strategic location between the N-332 corridor and the industrial area. Nestled between substations in Finestrat and San Juan, the new installation will shorten transmission distances to consumption points, reducing energy losses. Newly constructed medium voltage lines will interconnect with existing regional lines, enabling supply to the La Vila Joiosa market as part of the broader regional grid plan (I-DE regional strategy documents).
Additional benefits include expanded growth capacity for the city and the wider region to meet future demand as urban development accelerates. The substation will support the expansion of electric vehicle charging points and the integration of self-consumption facilities, contributing to economic and social development in line with national decarbonization goals (European energy transition guidelines).
Digitized electrical network
Iberdrola’s distribution arm i-DE intends to invest 477 million euros in smart networks across the Community of Valencia from 2022 to 2024. The plan aims to stimulate the economy, create jobs, and advance decarbonization consistent with national and regional strategies. The investment backs a modern, digital grid that strengthens resilience and efficiency.
The shift to resilient, flexible, and intelligent infrastructure enables better handling of electrification challenges. It supports higher renewable integration, sustainable mobility, smart cities, and greater consumer control over energy use and connection choices ( Valencia regional plan).
i-DE has carried out a bold digitization program for electricity networks in the province of Alicante. The network has moved from traditional meters to smart solutions in telemanagement, control, and automation. In Alicante, roughly 30,000 kilometers of low and medium voltage lines have been upgraded, along with more than 1,000 kilometers of high and very high voltage lines. The province now counts about 10,500 conversion centers and 51 primary and secondary substations in operation (I-DE performance report).