An unexpected power failure in southern Spain set off a chain reaction that left the Iberian Peninsula in darkness, with authorities still searching for answers.
An abrupt loss of power generation at a substation in Granada, followed by additional failures seconds later in Badajoz and Seville, caused a massive blackout across Spain and Portugal on 28 April, Spain’s Energy Minister Sara Aagesen told lawmakers on Wednesday.
The cascading failures resulted in a 2.2-gigawatt loss of electricity generation, which triggered multiple grid disconnections. Aagesen noted that while the root cause of the incidents remains unclear, this is the first time Spanish authorities have publicly identified the origin of the blackout.
“We are analysing millions of pieces of data. We also continue to make progress in identifying where these generation losses occurred and we already know that they started in Granada, Badajoz and Seville,” she said.
Grid operator REE stated that Spain’s main transmission network showed no faults on the day of the incident and suggested the problem may have originated outside the main grid—potentially at generation plants or smaller local grids.
The investigation is also considering high voltage fluctuations observed in the days preceding the outage as a possible factor. However, Aagesen ruled out cyberattacks, grid capacity issues, or imbalances in supply and demand.
She also rejected claims by opposition lawmakers that the government had ignored expert warnings. “There was no alert, no warning,” she asserted.
In the aftermath, scrutiny has fallen on Spain’s increasing reliance on renewable energy and its strategy to phase out nuclear power by 2035. Critics argue that the reduced share of nuclear and fossil fuel sources may have weakened grid stability due to a lack of "grid inertia."
Aagesen defended the current energy mix, stating that renewables have brought down consumer costs and improved energy independence amid geopolitical uncertainty. Spain continues to use the same level of renewables as before the blackout.
She left the door open to extending the life of nuclear power plants, provided that safety, affordability, and supply security could be ensured.
Experts say there is no proof a renewable energy experiment led to the widespread blackout across the Iberian Peninsula in April, as investigations point to a complex grid failure with no single identified cause.
Following a rare nationwide blackout, Spain has restored nearly all electricity supply, though most trains remain idle and the cause of the outage remains unclear.
Spain’s Interior Ministry declared a state of emergency on Monday after a nationwide power blackout struck much of the Iberian Peninsula.
A major blackout across Spain and Portugal could last 6 to 10 hours, according to Red Electrica. While power is being restored in some areas, the cause of the outage remains unclear, with authorities considering the possibility of a cyberattack.
Russia and Kazakhstan have signed a formal agreement to move forward with the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan, marking a key step in their energy cooperation.
Wizz Air has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, and its European services to Amman, Jordan, effective immediately until September 15 due to escalating situation in the Middle East. Also, the air carrier temporarily suspended its flights between Astana, Kazakhstan, and Abu Dhabi.
Russia intends to withdraw from its long-standing agreement on military-technical cooperation with Germany, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced, citing that relevant internal procedures are currently underway.
A nationwide transport strike on Friday disrupted travel across Italy, with major delays and cancellations reported in rail, air, and public transit services.
Azerbaijan and Poland discussed closer cooperation in digital tax reforms and innovation during a high-level meeting held on the sidelines of the IOTA General Assembly in Baku.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
Israeli strikes have reportedly targeted areas near the residences of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the New York Times, citing local witnesses.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 17th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Russia and Kazakhstan have signed a formal agreement to move forward with the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan, marking a key step in their energy cooperation.
A nationwide transport strike on Friday disrupted travel across Italy, with major delays and cancellations reported in rail, air, and public transit services.
Several EU Member States have activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) to assist the departure of citizens due to the airspace closures in the Middle East. Slovakia, Lithuania, Greece, Poland and Portugal have requested UCPM support to assist the departure of their nationals.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
China issued red alerts as extreme monsoon rain trigger flash floods across central and southern regions, threatening lives, and infrastructure.
Russia and Kazakhstan have signed a formal agreement to move forward with the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan, marking a key step in their energy cooperation.
Wizz Air has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, and its European services to Amman, Jordan, effective immediately until September 15 due to escalating situation in the Middle East. Also, the air carrier temporarily suspended its flights between Astana, Kazakhstan, and Abu Dhabi.
Russia intends to withdraw from its long-standing agreement on military-technical cooperation with Germany, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced, citing that relevant internal procedures are currently underway.
A nationwide transport strike on Friday disrupted travel across Italy, with major delays and cancellations reported in rail, air, and public transit services.
Azerbaijan and Poland discussed closer cooperation in digital tax reforms and innovation during a high-level meeting held on the sidelines of the IOTA General Assembly in Baku.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment