A series of warning signs hinted at Spain’s unprecedented power outage, which affected millions of people on Monday. The country’s energy industry had sounded repeated warnings about the instability of its grid in the build-up to the blackout.
Renewable energy boom poses a challenge: companies say that as renewables become more prevalent, grids face vulnerabilities. Nuclear plant closures add to the challenges. Spain has planned to shut down all seven nuclear reactors by 2035, which could lead to increased risks of blackouts.
Grid operators must maintain balance between supply and demand, just like with any surplus or deficit. In the days leading up to the blackout, Spain experienced several power surges and cuts. On April 22, a power cut disrupted railway signals, stranding at least 10 high-speed trains near Madrid.
Industry experts say that small renewable generators are putting extra pressure on infrastructure, while grid operators lack information from smaller plants to operate in real-time. The closure of coal, gas-fired, and nuclear plants reduces the grid’s balancing capacities, increasing the risk of power cuts.
Spain has ordered investigations into the blackout, involving government, security agencies, and technical experts. A high court judge has launched a probe into whether a cyber attack was responsible. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and REE’s chief Beatriz Corredor have denied that record levels of renewable energy were to blame for the blackout.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/spain-suffered-multiple-power-incidents-build-up-full-blackout-2025-05-02