Massive Power Outage Leaves Spain and Portugal in Darkness for Nearly a Day
A massive power outage on April 28, 2025, left Spain and Portugal in darkness for nearly a day, affecting millions. The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) identified this as the first known blackout caused by overvoltage. European Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen has since called for an update to the EU's energy security strategy.
The incident exposed vulnerabilities in the system's security. Automatic defense plans proved insufficient against sudden voltage spikes, leading to a 'cascading overvoltage' that overwhelmed the Iberian Peninsula's grid. The cause of the overvoltage event remains under investigation, with a final report expected in early 2026 by ENTSO-E. Incomplete data from Spanish generation companies posed challenges during the investigation. Despite initial concerns, ENTSO-E's report found that Spain's increasing reliance on renewable energy was not a cause of the outage.
The blackout sparked a blame game between the Spanish government, Red Electrica, and individual electricity companies. It disrupted modern life, highlighting the need for robust grid management and emergency response plans.
The blackout, which lasted nearly a day, served as a stark reminder of the importance of reliable power infrastructure. A final report with detailed recommendations is expected in the first quarter of 2026, aiming to prevent such incidents in the future. European Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen has emphasized the need to update the EU's energy security strategy in light of this event.
