A major European power outage in April 2025 left millions without electricity, highlighting the challenges of balancing renewable energy sources with grid demands.
A massive blackout in Spain, Portugal, and parts of southern France left millions without electricity for several hours on April 28, 2025. While the causes of the outage are still unclear, experts point to the makeup of the Iberian peninsula’s power grid as a primary factor.
The grid operator, Red Eléctrica, has ruled out a cyberattack, human error, or unusual weather conditions as the cause of the outage. Instead, they suggest that the incident may have originated from two ‘disconnections of generation,’ which could be linked to the inherent volatility of renewable sources. Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, can introduce fluctuations in the grid that may not be easily manageable.
Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, are increasingly becoming a viable alternative to fossil fuels.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), renewable energy accounted for 26% of global electricity generation in 2020.
Solar energy alone has seen a 20-fold increase in capacity since 2008, with over 720 gigawatts installed worldwide.
Governments and companies are investing heavily in renewable energy infrastructure, driving down costs and improving efficiency.
Maintaining Grid Balance: A Delicate Task
Maintaining balance between energy production and consumption is a critical responsibility of the system operator, who monitors parameters like electrical frequency, voltage, and load from substations in real-time. When there are significant discrepancies between generation and demand, automatic disconnections are activated to avoid imbalances.
Experts emphasize that this type of total blackout is an exceptional event, but it serves as a security mechanism for the electricity system. The grid’s ability to balance energy production with consumption is crucial to preventing blackouts and damaging infrastructure.
The Limitations of Renewable Energy Sources
Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, lack mechanical inertia, which can make them difficult to manage in terms of grid stability. Unlike thermal or hydroelectric power plants, these systems are connected to the grid via electronic inverters rather than synchronous generators, making it harder for the grid to respond to sudden changes in balance.
Renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, generate electricity from natural resources.
Solar energy harnesses 'sunlight' to produce electricity through photovoltaic panels or solar thermal systems.
Wind energy utilizes 'wind turbines' to convert kinetic energy into electrical power.
Hydroelectric power plants tap into the energy of moving water to generate electricity.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), renewable energy sources accounted for 26% of global electricity generation in 2020, up from 22% in 2010.
As a result, the proportion of renewable energy sources in the grid can erode the overall robustness of the energy system. This is particularly concerning given Spain‘s ambitious target of 81% of its electricity coming from clean sources by 2030. The country has already seen significant growth in renewable energy production, with renewables accounting for 66% of installed capacity and generating 58.95% of the country’s electricity.
Improving Grid Resilience: A Call to Action
While the probability of a similar event occurring again in the short or medium term is low, experts agree that it is essential to implement measures to strengthen the resilience of the system. This includes limiting the production of photovoltaic energy at times of low demand, incorporating frequency and voltage stabilizers into the grid, and increasing electricity interconnections with neighboring countries.
Grid resilience refers to a power grid's ability to withstand and recover from disruptions, such as natural disasters or cyber-attacks.
A resilient grid is designed to adapt to changing conditions, ensuring reliable electricity supply.
Key factors include robust infrastructure, advanced monitoring systems, and flexible energy sources.
Statistics show that grid outages can cost billions of dollars annually.
Investing in grid resilience can reduce these losses, promote economic growth, and enhance public safety.
As Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish prime minister, noted in a press conference, ‘the main causes of the outage are still unclear, but it is essential to investigate thoroughly.’ The European Commission has also launched an investigation into what caused the grid to fail. By taking proactive steps to improve grid resilience and addressing the limitations of renewable energy sources, we can reduce the risk of similar events occurring in the future.
- wired.com | What Caused the European Power Outage?
