Thor: Transforming Bilbao into a Smart Energy Island

Thor, a 2.5km artificial peninsula in Bilau, aims to become a net-zero emission island with smart grid technology and a focus on renewable energy.

### Bilbao's Thor Project: Transforming a 2.5km Artificial Peninsula into a Net Zero Emissions Island
* 🏝️  The Thor project aims to transform a 2.5km artificial peninsula in Bilbao into a **net-zero emissions island** and create and promote **renewable energy** for the surrounding neighborhoods.
* 🔌  New intelligent solutions, including **sensors, actuators, telecommunication solutions, and intelligent systems**, will be installed to **balance the network and make it a smart grid**.
* 🏢  The island will feature a **mixed-use area** with economic activities, residential spaces, educational institutions, and cultural venues.
* 🔬  Thor will serve as a living lab for testing new technologies related to **renewable energy generation, smart metering, grid monitoring, and digital services**.
* 🏗️  A new **132 kilovolt substation** will be built to **expand the network and meet the new demand** in the area.
* 💡 " The main challenge in developing smart grids is the lack of investment, which requires **certainty, predictability, and a good return**.
* 🌍  The future grid will be smarter, capable of **accommodating large-scale renewable generation**, **managing system balancing**, and **preparing for demand electrification**.
* 🎯 " We have a unique opportunity to create a **flagship project in Bilbao** that can drive the development of **new activities related to renewable energies**.

[Music] Thor is one of the most complex, and probably the biggest, areas that has been transformed in the city of Bilau. It was an artificial peninsula in the middle of the city, 2.5 km long, around 230,000 square m of land to be transformed. We want to be this island a net Z emission Island, and we want to build new systems. Not only to be an island of net zero emissions, but also if we are able for that to create and promote renewable energy for the neighborhoods that they are surrounding this island of the it will be a flagship project Ina, and we are all very excited to make it reality in the next years. We will be installing new intelligent solutions to balance the network and make the network a smart Network. A smart GD goes beyond the bus world. The smart GD is new paradigm to understand the new way to generate, distribute, and consume electricity. So we will be installing sensors, actuators, telecommunication Solutions, and intelligent systems to

balance the network and to make it more intelligent, we want to have a mixed-use island not only with economical activities and places where to live and where to study, but also where to have ler and to enjoy the culture that we have in in Bilow. We think this kind of U living lab we could Define thoros as some kind of living lab in which a number of new technologies around renewable energy generation, smart metering, the monitoring of the grid, and digital management of all the services flexibility from the consumer's point of view electric vehicle recharging so all these kind of solutions that we could include in the energy transition Solutions are tested in a real-life place with real customers. We will be building a new 132 kilovolt substation that will expand our network and will serve the needs for the new demand that is being developed there. We have a great challenge right now not only here in BAU or in the B country but say in Spain and in Europe that is the rate of growth, the rate of

investment in GDs in general, and specifically in the smart GDs in the intelligence and the sensoring and monitoring, and software that has to be integrated with the electrical grid. We are humble, and we understand that the technology will evolve, and new Solutions will come to the market, but that is not the main challenge. The main challenge is the lack of investment, and in order to invest, we need certainty, we need predictability, and we need a good enough return, and that is key for the energy transition to take place. I think SOS Island is a very good example of what Bas people try to develop for the future, not only in Bilbao, but also in the whole Bas country, creating also new activities connected with the renewable energies. The network of the future will certainly be smarter, but it will be ready to accommodate the massive renewable generation that will come to it, while at the same time managing the balancing of the system, getting ready for the electrification of the demand. I'm, uh, I could say, excited about the

development of this uh electrification Trend. I really think it's going to be not just the only one, but probably the main solution to the carbon the economy in the coming years. We have a unique opportunity to develop something new in Bilbo that can act as a flagship project as the GH Museum acted some time ago. Now it is the time for Thor. [Music]

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Financial Times

Transformation of Thor: The Vision for a Net Zero Emissions Island

5 km artificial peninsula in Bilau, is set to become a net zero emissions island with a focus on promoting renewable energy for surrounding neighborhoods.

The project aims to create a smart network with intelligent solutions for balancing the energy grid and plans to serve as a living lab for testing new technologies.

Additionally, the transformation includes the construction of a new 132 kilovolt substation to meet the growing demand for energy in the area.

The Importance of Investment in Smart Grids for Energy Transition

Investment certainty and predictability are crucial for the transition to smart grids and renewable energy.

The lack of investment is the main challenge in developing intelligent grid systems.

The example of SOS Island demonstrates the potential for new activities and renewable energy integration in the future smart grid network.

The Impact of Electrification on the Carbon Economy

Electrification is projected to be the main solution for the carbon economy in the future.

Bilbo has the opportunity to spearhead a new flagship project, similar to the GH Museum.

This marks the era of Thor's significance in the development of electrification.