Overview

• A widespread blackout struck Spain, Portugal, and parts of southern France on April 28, disrupting power, transport, and communications across the region.
• Portuguese grid operator REN attributes the incident to a rare atmospheric vibration caused by extreme temperature swings, inducing abnormal oscillations in high-voltage lines.
• Experts have not ruled out other possibilities, including cyberattacks, sabotage, or infrastructure failures, as investigations continue.
• The blackout highlights the challenges of managing Spain's renewable-heavy energy grid, which is more susceptible to stability issues due to its reliance on wind and solar power.
• France, partially affected, has offered assistance to Spain, while Italy monitors the situation closely due to its reliance on French electricity imports.