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4h ago

Spain’s April Blackout Traced to Substation Failures as Energy Policy Faces Scrutiny

Investigations reveal cascading outages from substation failures, with focus on renewable energy monitoring gaps and potential policy shifts on nuclear power.

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Eine Mitarbeiterin hilft einer Kundin mit einer Taschenlampe in einem Supermarkt während eines Stromausfalls.
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Overview

  • The April 28 blackout affected over 60 million people in Spain and Portugal, triggered by equipment failures at substations in Granada, Sevilla, and Badajoz.
  • Officials ruled out a direct cyberattack on Red Eléctrica (REE), but investigations continue into vulnerabilities in smaller renewable installations.
  • Spain’s decentralized renewable energy network, which contributed over 45% of electricity in 2024, faces criticism for inadequate real-time monitoring and system transparency.
  • The government is considering extending the operational lifetimes of nuclear plants to address energy stability concerns as part of broader policy adjustments.
  • European and national investigations, including by ENTSO-E, are ongoing, with a final report on the blackout expected by September 2026.