Bilbao's Zorrotzaurre: From Industrial Land to Smart City

At the core of Bilbao, Spain, lies an impressive narrative of urban renewal.

The district of Zorrotzaurre, once an industrial peninsula created during the 50s and 60s is now on a journey to become a state-of-the-art smart city area.

Decline in the 1980s brought the area's flourish to a halt, but it is now the centrepiece of a significant revitalisation plan crafted by the famed architect Zaha Hadid.

This plan envisions a mixed-use urban circuit that continues Bilbao's transition from industrial powerhouse to a centre of knowledge and innovation.

Asier Abaunza Robles, Councillor for Urban Planning & Public Space at Bilbao City Council, explains: "We want this to be a net zero emissions island, building new systems not only for Zorrotzaurre but also to create and promote renewable energy for the surrounding neighbourhoods."

Bilbao's new energy era with Iberdrola

A pivotal aspect of Zorrotzaurre's redevelopment centres on pioneering smart energy solutions.

Spanish energy giant Iberdrola spearheads this movement as part of the European ATELIER scheme.

Jose Ignacio Hormaeche from the Basque Energy Cluster describes the project as "a living lab where new technologies around renewable energy generation, smart metering, grid monitoring and digital management of services are tested in a real-life place with real customers".

This cluster operates as a beacon for collaboration and innovation within the energy sector in the Basque region.

Embedding technologies such as electric mobility, personal energy consumption, storage solutions and intelligent grids into the project’s infrastructure is key to its success.

Nico Arcauz, Smart Grids Director at Iberdrola, says: "It's a flagship project. We're installing new intelligent solutions to balance the network and make it smarter."

Innovation at the heart of Bilbao’s peninsula

The transformation includes the emergence of a Technology Campus, destined to be a crucible for companies focused on AI, big data and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies.

Two bridges now connect the island to the Deusto district: the Frank Gehry Bridge, opened in 2015, and the San Ignacio Bridge, completed in 2020. 

Yet, as Nicoi highlights, the journey towards innovation is not without its storms. Investment, or the lack thereof, stands as a formidable challenge: "The main challenge is the lack of investment. To invest, we need certainty, predictability, and a good enough return – that is key for the energy transition to take place."

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