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Iberian Blackout Sparks Renewed Scrutiny of Renewable Grid Stability

As investigations into the cause of the massive outage continue, political and technical debates intensify over the future of energy systems in Spain and across Europe.

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Overview

  • A sudden blackout on April 28 disrupted power across Spain and Portugal, with 15 GW of generation lost in five seconds, representing 60% of demand.
  • Investigations are ongoing, with attention focused on two photovoltaic installations in Extremadura, though no definitive cause has been identified yet.
  • Authorities have ruled out cyberattacks, and Spain has enlisted both national and EU experts to analyze technical failures in its renewable-heavy grid.
  • The incident has reignited political debates in Spain, with opposition parties calling for extended nuclear plant operations, a move resisted by the Sánchez government.
  • The blackout has prompted broader discussions on grid resilience, with regions like Saxony in Germany reviewing emergency preparedness and energy stability measures.