According to a CCTV News report on April 29, Spain and Portugal experienced a massive power outage on the 28th, affecting over 50 million people across the Iberian Peninsula. Critical services—including transportation, communications, and healthcare—were temporarily paralyzed, with brief disruptions also reported in southern France and neighboring regions.
European Commission Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera stated that there is currently no evidence linking the blackout to a cyberattack. The incident ranks among Europe’s most severe power failures in recent years.
Authorities have yet to confirm the official cause, with investigations ongoing.
Eduardo Prieto, head of Spanish grid operator Red Eléctrica, said on April 28 that the outage was triggered by a "violent oscillation in the grid," which disconnected Spain’s power system from the European network. This aligns with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s reference to a "major technical fluctuation."
Grid oscillations—often caused by rapid shifts in power generation or demand—can lead to cascading failures. For instance, sudden large-scale load changes disrupt the balance between supply and consumption, destabilizing the system.
Portuguese grid operator REN suggested the abnormal oscillation may be linked to extreme temperature swings in Spain. Experts noted that such fluctuations can destabilize ultra-high-voltage networks above 400 kV.
Renewable energy’s role is also under scrutiny. Data from Red Eléctrica shows renewables accounted for 56% of Spain’s electricity in 2024. Just days earlier, on April 16, 2025, the country’s grid achieved a historic milestone by operating entirely on renewables (wind, solar, and hydro) for a full day. The blackout has reignited debates about grid stability amid rising renewable penetration. Europe’s power systems increasingly face challenges in balancing supply and demand, with large-scale renewable integration raising oscillation risks.
The Iberian grid—highly interconnected but linked to Europe via limited cross-border lines—exposed the vulnerabilities of energy isolation. While Ribera ruled out cyberattacks, the event underscores Europe’s struggle to adapt to renewable volatility.
Analysts urge accelerated grid modernization and cross-border capacity upgrades to tackle renewable intermittency and extreme weather. The blackout may prompt the EU to fast-track energy security reforms and enhance grid resilience.
Energy analysts note that outages of this scale are rare in wealthy nations. Given Iberia’s heavy renewable reliance, the incident will serve as a “case study on renewables’ reliability and post-blackout recovery.”
