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Digitalisation in distribution
Digitalisation of distribution to ensure quality of supply
The digitalisation and integration of systems, smart grids and smart meters all help to increase the security of supply and improve the quality of service.
Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable development goals
SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities
The initiatives that we have in place to digitalise the distribution network allow us to continue increasing the level of automation and digitalisation of the network to increase the security of supply, improve the quality of service and respond to future demands from customers. We have invested in modernisation and the development of new infrastructure, such as smart grids and smart cities, which are capable of adapting more effectively to user needs.
Remote management and meter-reading control: sustainability of the electricity system
Throughout 2021, we made a total of 119,230 replacements, encompassing 99.6% of type 5 meters with an active contract and contracted power of up to 15 kW (11.92 million active customers with smart meters). Furthermore, this year, 20,644 type 4 devices have been installed with remote management capacity (for supplies with a contracted power of between 15 and 50 kW), encompassing 97.0% of the target type 4 facilities.
Advances in the remote management, installation of remote controls and remote control updating plan.
Low voltage*
Remote management plan (millions of meters installed)
2019: 12,2
2020: 12,4
2021: 12,5
2022-2024: 12,9
Medium voltage**
Remote control installation plan (number)
2019: 20.858
2020: 23.955
2021: 29.045
2022-2024: 43.537
High voltage*
Remote control update (number)
2019: 260
2020: 336
2021: 361
2022-2024: 377
The large-scale implementation of this equipment strengthens our leadership in the development of this technological solution, while complying with the standards demanded by the current regulatory framework. In addition, we play a proactive role by participating in national and European energy innovation and efficiency projects to facilitate the adoption of remote management technology in Europe.
Projects such as AMMS have applied the latest digital advances to the infrastructure to allow, among other benefits, more efficient management of breakdowns and greater user control over consumption. We have also applied new predictive models for detecting non-technical losses, which detect abnormalities and fraud, using machine learning and deep learning techniques.
Smart grids: towards a more efficient energy model
Smart grids are capable of offering a simultaneous view of consumption and demand, enabling more efficient management and the adoption of preventive and predictive maintenance strategies. Together with the incorporation of information and communication technologies (ICT), we have configured our networks using the smart grid model to provide an effective response to user needs.
This digitalisation of the networks not only allows us to improve the quality of the electricity supply. It also enables the advancement of the electric vehicle deployment plan and the development of more complete and advanced energy services.
We have integrated the development of smart grid concepts into programmes relating to smart cities. In this way, we can analyse how the current energy model can evolve towards sustainability by implementing innovative technological solutions. Some good examples of this approach are the Growsmarter project, which has led to advances in the digitalisation of transformation centres, and the Network Digital Twin project, which offers a digital replica of physical assets with real-time control.
The smart city: a living laboratory for the development of smart technologies
The Smartcity Malaga project has established itself as a centre for experimentation in and development of electricity distribution technologies. This Living Lab is located in an area of the city with 12,000 domestic, 300 industrial and 900 service customers, and it is where state-of-the-art technologies for energy production and storage are being developed.
In Smartcity Malaga we have deployed charging infrastructure for electric mobility and pioneering energy efficiency solutions. It is also operating as a testing ground for initiatives applied to urban environments, such as the Flexiciency, PALOMA, MONICA and PASTORA projects.
This commitment to research contributing to the promotion of a new sustainable energy management model was recognised in 2018 by the European Union, with the approval of the implementation of the CoordiNet project, a part of the H2020 programme. It is an initiative in which from e-distribution we will coordinate the consortium of 23 European companies and research centres studying network flexibility.