Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Iberian Blackout Investigation Probes Renewable Energy Role

Spain and Portugal's massive power outage leaves €1.6 billion in damages as officials examine grid vulnerabilities and renewable energy integration.

Image
Image
Image
Image

Overview

  • A sudden loss of 15 GW of power on April 28 caused Spain and Portugal's grid to disconnect from Europe, affecting 60 million people.
  • Investigators have ruled out cyberattacks but are exploring potential faults in the photovoltaic network as a contributing factor.
  • The blackout exposed the Iberian Peninsula's limited interconnection with Europe, which hindered emergency power imports.
  • Economic losses from the outage are estimated at €1.6 billion, prompting Spain to allocate €700 million to expand energy storage capacity by 2030.
  • Industry and government officials defend renewable energy's reliability, while experts call for grid upgrades to manage renewable fluctuations.