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Spain Probes Cybersecurity at Renewable Plants After Major Blackout

Authorities investigate the April 28 outage, questioning small wind and solar plant defenses as no definitive cause has been identified.

A man holds a laptop computer as cyber code is projected on him in this illustration picture taken on May 13, 2017. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/Illustration/File Photo
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Overview

  • A massive power outage on April 28 left millions in Spain, Portugal, and parts of southern France without electricity for hours.
  • Investigators are examining potential causes, including grid inertia issues, operational failures, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
  • The National Cybersecurity Institute (Incibe) is scrutinizing small renewable plants' defenses, asking about anomalies and remote operation capabilities.
  • Spanish authorities and grid operator Red Electrica have ruled out both cyberattacks and renewable energy as the direct causes of the blackout.
  • Stakeholders emphasize the need for grid modernization, improved cybersecurity, and resilience to prevent future disruptions.