Overview

• A massive blackout on Monday disrupted power across Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and parts of France, affecting millions of residents.
• Red Eléctrica confirmed the blackout stemmed from two sequential events: a sudden drop in solar generation in southwestern Spain and a failure at Spain-France grid coupling points.
• Experts warn that high shares of weather-dependent renewables like solar and wind reduce grid inertia, increasing vulnerability to blackouts if not managed effectively.
• Germany’s n-1 security framework and reserve power systems are cited as examples of robust grid design, though surveys reveal low public preparedness for outages.
• Technological solutions such as islandable photovoltaic systems and expanded energy storage are gaining traction as potential measures to enhance grid resilience.