At a time when Europe is putting its industrial competitiveness and energy autonomy at risk, Spain has a unique opportunity: to become, for the first time, a European industrial power.
And we’re already seeing the opportunity. In the last four years, industrial requests for connection to the electricity grid have increased tenfold. These are industries that, attracted by the low prices of renewable electricity and the quality of the offer, decide to modernize and invest in Spain. They are potential development, technology, employment, wealth and taxes. But there is one essential element that can make this opportunity a reality or a failure: electricity grids.
Electricity grids are the invisible infrastructure that makes this reindustrialization and modernization of the economy possible. Investments in electricity grids will allow us to connect all these industries, digitalisation needs and new homes. Without networks there is no electrification. And without electrification there is no reindustrialisation.
While other European countries, such as France, Germany or Italy, have been accelerating investments in networks for some time to try to retain their industry, in Spain we are faced with a paradox: our renewables and the quality of supply attract industries from all over the world, but investments in networks are not up to par and we are unable to connect them. This situation is generating bottlenecks, the impossibility of connecting new projects and growing frustration among citizens, businesses and local administrations.
If we do not correct this situation, companies that are currently exploring locations for their production centers in Spain will choose other countries that have networks for their connection. And we will miss an opportunity that will not come again. A lost opportunity for the future due to something we have known how to do for more than 100 years, electricity networks.
In recent decades, Spain has developed an industrial value chain around electricity networks that represents a point of reference in Europe. We produce transformers, insulators, cables, smart meters, control systems and management software. We have engineering, installers, research and development centers and specialized universities. This chain generates tens of thousands of skilled jobs and exports technology around the world. Yes, we export technology!
If we do not invest in networks and only propose cuts in spending on electricity infrastructure, this chain will disappear. Not only would we fail to attract new industry and make the existing one viable, allowing its modernization, but also to preserve the industrial chain that we have already associated with electricity and which is a world leader.
Investing in networks is not an expense, it is a strategic investment for our country. Having electrical infrastructure allows economic development. Until now, the lack of electricity infrastructure, which slows economic growth and private investment, has been more typical of developing countries than developed countries, so we must act quickly to change the rules that led to this situation and reverse it.
Furthermore, every euro allocated for the modernization of the network generates around ten euros in economic activity, employment and tax collection, increases the security and autonomy of our country and strengthens territorial cohesion. The networks make it possible to attract businesses, to develop rural areas economically and to democratize access to and production of energy.
The European Commission has understood this and has placed networks at the center of its policy. Germany, France and Italy are mobilizing billions to strengthen their electricity infrastructure. Spain cannot be left behind. We need a regulatory framework that recognizes the strategic value of the networks in our country and allows companies to invest with a vision for the future and does not prevent access to electricity to anyone willing to invest in our country.
Betting on electricity networks means betting on employment, innovation and competitiveness. It bets on an industrial and digital Spain, connected to the future.
Patxi Calleja He is Regulatory Director at Iberdrola Spain.
Trends It is a project of EL PAÍS, with which the newspaper aspires to open a permanent dialogue on the great future challenges that our society must face. The initiative is sponsored by Abertis, Enagás, EY, Iberdrola, Iberia, Mapfre, Novartis, the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI), Redeia and Santander, WPP Media and strategic partner Oliver Wyman.
You can sign up Here to receive the weekly newsletter of EL PAÍS Tendencias, every Tuesday, from journalist Javier Sampedro.
