Training the next generation is a key part of the energy transition. At the Virgen al Pie de la Cruz School in Valencia, Spain, students are learning how electrification and digital energy management work in practice, and how they can reduce emissions and energy costs at the same time. The school has now been recognized for that work, receiving the Sergio Pomar Prize for Renewable Energies, an award that highlights innovation in electrification, sustainability, and vocational training.
The project stands out not only because of the technology, but because it has been embedded directly into education. The school designed and delivered the project itself, turning its campus into a real-world learning environment where students can apply theory to practice.
Illustrative image - vocational training (Source: AdobeStock) 
Virgen al Pie de la Cruz School in Valencia, Spain 
Virgen al Pie de la Cruz School in Valencia, Spain 
Virgen al Pie de la Cruz School in Valencia, Spain
Learning by doing: electrification as an educational tool
Virgen al Pie de la Cruz offers education from preschool through secondary school, alongside basic vocational training in electricity and electronics. The energy project was developed as part of this training, giving students the chance to work directly with renewable energy systems and digital electrification tools.
The project combines renewable generation with ABB protection, measurement, and energy management solutions. Students can see how electrical systems are monitored and managed in practice, using the same technologies found in real installations today.
Turning data into action with digital energy management
The project uses ABB's InSite energy management system. Its cloud platform, ABB Ability™ InSite Energy Pro, gives the school a clear view of how energy is used across the campus. The system's SCU200 control unit is connected to ABB digital meters and current sensors to monitor electricity, gas, water, and heat in real time. This makes it easier to spot inefficiencies, allocate energy costs, and prepare reports for audits and certifications.
Automated monitoring of heating, cooling, and lighting has helped the school save up to 26,100 kilowatt-hours each year. Total energy use has been reduced by between 16 and 29 percent, with an estimated payback period of around four and a half years.
The system is also used as part of student training, giving them direct experience with digital energy management in buildings.
A campus designed for learning and efficiency
The ABB InSite energy management system has upgraded the school’s electrical infrastructure. Energy use is easier to track, and the system can be expanded as needed.
Students use the same technologies they will see in real projects, while the school benefits from lower energy costs and reduced emissions. The project also provides a practical example of how education and electrification can support the energy transition.
“The integration of ABB Ability™ InSite Energy Pro has been key to the success of the project,” says Alberto Francés, Director of Virgen al Pie de la Cruz School. “It allows us to monitor performance in real time, optimize consumption, and train students using the digital tools that are now essential in the electricity sector.”
Sergio Pomar Prize for Renewable Energies 
Sergio Pomar Prize for Renewable Energies
Education and sustainability, working together
The Sergio Pomar Awards were created in memory of Sergio Pomar Montahud, a Spanish educator and advocate for vocational training and renewable energy education. The awards recognize work in vocational training, innovation, and renewable energy. Awarding a school in this category reflects the growing link between education, electrification, and sustainability.
For ABB, the project shows how electrification and digital energy management can be used in education as well as in commercial buildings.
“This recognition highlights the role young people can play in the energy transition,” says Pablo Mira, Sales Specialist at ABB, who led the project. “We are pleased to support projects that combine education with practical sustainability outcomes.”
Virgen al Pie de la Cruz School in Spain demonstrates how smart electrification can do more than power buildings. It can inspire the next generation to lead the transition to a cleaner, more efficient energy future.
