Fast forward to April 28, 2025 and a large-scale blackout hits the Iberian Peninsula, impacting tens of millions in Spain and Portugal. The Granada substation abruptly lost several megawatts of power generation. This sent a ripple effect of further disconnections across the entire grid. Spain’s decentralised electricity system proved better able to maintain the high levels of renewable energy output required in lockdown. These levels were similar to those prior to the blackout.
The blackout also led to the permanent loss of 2.2 gigawatts (GW) of electricity generation. According to their national grid operator, Red Eléctrica de España (REE), the main transmission grid was working like clockwork. All seemed typical until the blackout came crashing in. Energy Minister Sara Aagesen provided further insight into the failure. She conceded that failures in multiple cities, such as Badajoz and Seville, contributed significantly to the widespread impacts.
Though the exact cause of the blackout has not yet been determined, Aagesen said the investigation into what caused the incident is still very active.
“We are analysing millions of pieces of data. We also continue to make progress in identifying where these generation losses occurred, and we now know that they started in Granada, Badajoz and Seville.” – Sara Aagesen
Aagesen’s remarks help explain the double-edged sword that is the current situation. Officials have been scrambling to understand what led to such a massive disruption and prevent it from happening again. This incident has opened a larger discussion about Spain’s energy policy. People are most excited to hear about its pledge to phase out nuclear energy completely by 2035.
Aagesen responded to these concerns with gusto. He is open to support for extending the operation of nuclear plants, but only if he gets guarantee on security, consumer-oriented pricing and guarantee on positive influence on security of supply. Yet her remarks point to a broader conversation emerging over the future role of nuclear energy in Spain’s energy transition.
Critics have scrutinized the reliance on renewable energy sources since the blackout, questioning whether this strategy adequately supports grid stability. Aagesen was unapologetic in her defense of Spain’s energy direction. He claimed that the transition to renewables has made energy more affordable, brought in more investments, and increased the nation’s energy independence.
Aagesen countered assertions that state officials were warned of possible outages before the occurrence and didn’t act on those warnings. She highlighted that there wasn’t alert or warning that forecasted an upcoming significant outage.
As investigations continue, stakeholders remain focused on understanding the intricacies of the blackout while balancing Spain’s ambitious renewable energy goals with the need for a secure and reliable power supply.