Spain, Valencia: Iberdrola Spain has completed a major upgrade at its Llanos de Quart substation in the Quart de Poblet industrial estate in Valencia, following serious damage from severe storms caused by the DANA weather system.
The intervention involved raising the substation platform by more than 1.5 m and installing integrated high voltage assemblies (CIATs) – 66-kV units weighing over 30 t each and occupying around 40 m² per unit. This is the first time Iberdrola has deployed these pioneering assemblies globally. The CIATs integrate switching equipment within the infrastructure, creating a more compact, orderly, and visually unobtrusive substation.
Ayesa Martínez, Head of Project Engineering at Iberdrola Spain, explained that the compact design “frees up space for future expansions while improving site efficiency.” Ignacio García Bosch, head of the il·lumina plan, noted that the $8.3 M (€7 M) project also incorporates advanced digitalisation standards, benefiting industrial estate users and neighbouring communities.
The CIATs are mounted on elevated foundations, placing sensitive components about two metres above the original ground level. This design improves resilience against future storms, protecting critical equipment while maintaining operational reliability.
By combining structural enhancements with cutting-edge technology, Iberdrola is turning a traditional outdoor substation into a modern, safer, and more efficient facility, setting a benchmark for future high-voltage infrastructure projects in Spain and beyond.
Source: Atalayar
