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.
Nearly a week after a magnitude 6 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, more than 2,200 people have died and tens of thousands are homeless. Resident...
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments that India and the United States “have a very positive and...
The 82nd Venice International Film Festival wrapped up Saturday with a glamorous closing ceremony, celebrating cinematic achievements worldwide and sh...
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said on Friday that his country would enter a phase of “armed struggle” if attacked....
A rescue tragedy unfolded in southern Punjab on Saturday when a boat evacuating residents overturned in strong river currents, killing at least five p...
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.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Qatar announced the launch of an air bridge Saturday to deliver aid to Afghanistan following a devastating earthquake, one day after confirming that nine aircraft had already arrived in Kabul.
Ukrainian drones hit the roof of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant training centre, causing no major damage and no increase in radiation levels, the Russian-installed administration of the Russia-held plant in Ukraine said on Saturday.
Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and U.S. President Donald Trump have agreed to broaden their strategic partnership and enhance mutually beneficial cooperation, the Uzbek presidency said on Friday following a phone call between the two leaders.
Over 100,000 people have been evacuated in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province as floodwaters continue to rise, officials said on Friday.
Nearly a week after a magnitude 6 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, more than 2,200 people have died and tens of thousands are homeless. Residents of Bambakot and other villages are living under tents, too afraid to return to their damaged homes.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment