Iberdrola continues to promote quantum technology’s development and knowledge transfer

Iberdrola España, Iberdrola's subsidiary in Spain, and the Basque Government's Department of Science, Universities and Innovation have signed a long-term partnership agreement to research quantum computing’s application to different areas of the energy industry, develop new technological capabilities and encourage knowledge transfer. The agreement is part of the BasQ (Basque Quantum) Strategy promoted by the Basque Government, which positions the Basque Country, in northern Spain, as one of the most advanced European hubs for quantum technologies.

For Iberdrola, this partnership reaffirms its commitment to technological innovation as a driver of transformation in the energy model. The company is exploring the potential of quantum computing to optimise smart grids, improve weather forecasting, simulate advanced materials and accelerate energy efficiency algorithms.

This strategic partnership strengthens the collaborative fabric between science, business and institutions, and is a decisive step towards an advanced, sustainable innovation model connected to major global technological challenges.

Under the agreement, Iberdrola España will have access to the quantum computing capacity implemented by the Basque Government within the BasQ ecosystem. The utility will become a member of the IBM-Euskadi Quantum Computing Centre and will be able to access the centre's IBM Quantum System Two system, which is scheduled to be installed in San Sebastian at the end of this year. This is the first IBM installation of its kind in Europe. 

Members of the IBM-Euskadi Quantum Computing Centre will have access to these capabilities and resources to help train the quantum computing workforce, promote economic development and develop new useful algorithms that contribute to achieving the Basque Government's vision for quantum technologies, according to the IKUR 2030 plan.

Iberdrola España and the Basque Government will also collaborate on applied research, advanced training and scientific outreach projects, with a focus on the possible applications of quantum in the field of energy. The company will support the ecosystem of startups, companies and their working and training groups, such as the annual Quantum Practitioner courses. 

The aim is to foster interaction with other public and private agents in the BasQ ecosystem as well as with international scientific networks to create synergies and strengthen the Basque Country’s positioning in this field. 

For Iberdrola España, this partnership reaffirms its commitment to innovation technology as a vector for transforming the energy model. The company is exploring the potential of quantum computing to optimise smart grids, improve weather forecasting, simulate advanced materials and accelerate energy efficiency algorithms.

For its part, the Department of Science, Universities and Research consolidates with this agreement its role as a bridge between frontier science and the strategic challenges of the Basque industrial fabric. 

The agreement with Iberdrola España joins a series of public–private partnerships that the Basque Government is promoting in the context of BasQ to turn the Basque Country into a European benchmark in quantum science, talent training and industrial applications.

This strategic partnership strengthens the collaborative fabric between science, business and institutions and represents a decisive step towards a model of advanced, sustainable innovation that is connected to the major global technological challenges.

KeyFacts Energy: Iberdrola Energy Spain country profile