Several power grid disruptions occurred in Spain ahead of blackout – Reuters
Illustrative photo: several disruptions in the power system occurred in Spain ahead of the blackout (Getty Images)
Several power outages were recorded in Spain ahead of a major blackout, with industry representatives repeatedly warning about the instability of the power grid, Reuters reports.
According to the media outlet, on April 22, a Repsol oil refinery in Cartagena experienced operational disruptions due to power supply issues. Antonio Turiel, a senior researcher at the Spanish National Research Council, said that the grid had shown significant instability for several days leading up to the blackout.
Industry experts note that, regardless of the causes, the mass power outages and preceding smaller incidents point to problems within Spain’s power grid amid the growing use of renewable energy sources.
An oversupply of energy can be just as dangerous for the grid’s operation as a shortage, which is why operators are required to maintain balance. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the head of the power grid operator REE, Beatriz Corredor, assured the public that record levels of renewable energy are not the cause of the outages.
Blackout in Europe
On Monday, April 28, several European countries, including Spain, France, and Portugal, experienced a large-scale blackout. Millions of people were left without electricity, leading to major disruptions in transportation, communications, businesses, and critical infrastructure.
According to media reports, power restoration in Spain could take between 6 to 10 hours, and a state of emergency has been declared in the country due to the situation.
The exact cause of the outage remains unknown. Portugal’s national electric company, REN, initially suggested that wildfires on the southwestern coast of France may have damaged a high-voltage power line between Perpignan and Narbonne, possibly triggering the blackout.
In recent days, Spain’s National Court announced the launch of an official investigation into the massive power outage that occurred last Monday.
Read more about the blackout in Europe in the full report by RBC-Ukraine.
