On 28 April 2025, a major power blackout occurred in the Iberian Peninsula, affecting Spain and Portugal and causing chaos in a modern economy entirely dependent on electricity.
There was much speculation about the causes, and a detailed analysis is provided in this article.
The bottom line is that in a system heavily reliant on renewable energy, there must be a stable base to ensure grid reliability.
"All sources feeding power into the grid must be synchronised at the same frequency, 50 Hertz. To facilitate this synchronisation, stable base-load power is required, which is normally provided by nuclear and other large gas and hydroelectric facilities. These sources act as a natural buffer against disturbances, helping to keep the frequency stable in the face of sudden changes in generation or demand."
The situation was dire—essentially a catastrophe waiting to happen.
"At 12:33 there was little by way of stable source base in the Spanish grid and, in addition, the few nuclear power plants that were operating had been switched off when they detected a surge in the grid. Hydroelectric facilities were at the limit of their regulation capacity, and no provision had been made for the availability of gas-fired plants."
Another key observation is this:
"Solar energy during the sunniest hours distorts all offers (at price or negative), making more stable sources economically unviable unless they have a guaranteed price, and discouraging their production".
Europe’s misguided green energy policies aggressively promote solar and wind power while sidelining reliable sources like nuclear and gas. A prime example of this folly is Germany, which is now forced to reactivate coal-fired power plants to compensate for the instability of its renewable-dependent grid—making it an even worse polluter than before.
"Due to the energy crisis caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine, Germany temporarily reopened decommissioned and soon-to-be decommissioned coal power plants last year to avert gas shortages, which resulted in more CO2 being released"
To add insult to injury:
"Spain’s current EU-endorsed energy roadmap includes phasing out all nuclear power stations between 2027 and 2035".
Blaming a so-called "Rare Atmospheric Phenomenon" failed to convince the public, and people began demanding answers. As a result, the entire investigation has been classified as secret.
"Spain’s National Court has designated the investigation into the recent large-scale blackout as “secret” amid suspicions that it may have been caused by a cyberattack. Judge José Luis Calama made the decision on April 29 at the request of prosecutors, according to a report by news agency Europa Press. The full court order is not available in the public domain."
As usual, the truth hurts.
"Although political leaders promised that renewable energy would provide stable, affordable power, in practice, Spain grew more reliant on the remaining nuclear and natural gas plants to sustain inertia — even as the government pushes them to close."
