On Monday, April 28, 2025, at precisely 12:33 PM, Spain experienced a catastrophic electricity outage that left the nation and parts of Portugal in darkness. The incident, which unfolded in mere seconds, resulted in a complete collapse of the power grid, disconnecting the two countries in approximately five seconds. The blackout not only cut off electricity but also left many without mobile coverage, plunging Spain into a state of uncertainty.
Jorge Morales de Labra, an industrial engineer and director of Próxima Energía, explained the gravity of the situation during a recent television appearance. He emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of the failure. "We need to understand what the first incident was, what the second incident was, and if there is a relationship between the two," Morales stated, highlighting the importance of analyzing data from the 'black box' of Red Eléctrica, which recorded numerous metrics from over 60,000 power plants.
The investigation into the blackout is expected to be complex and lengthy, with Morales noting that typical analyses can take up to three months. However, he suggested that the use of Artificial Intelligence could expedite the process, potentially yielding answers as early as this week. "If Red Eléctrica and the other affected companies utilize AI, they could analyze the data more quickly," he remarked.
Morales detailed that the initial failure was technically compatible with a sudden loss of generation, likely caused by a significant power plant disconnecting from the grid. This was followed by a second incident 1.5 seconds later, which also correlated with generation loss. The second incident placed severe stress on the electrical system, leading to a loss of 15,000 megawatts and prompting power plants to disconnect for safety reasons.
Voltage dips, which can occur due to various factors such as lightning strikes or sudden demands from large consumers, are not uncommon. Morales explained that while such dips happen daily, the incidents on April 28 were more intense and prolonged than usual. "These dips are frequent, and the system is designed to handle them, but if they are too deep or last too long, the plants are programmed to disconnect," he clarified.
In a subsequent interview on the show 'La Revuelta', Morales reiterated that the electrical system had not experienced a failure of this magnitude in 50 years. He remarked, "Any politician who tells you that the system is infallible is misleading you. An infallible electrical system would be infinitely expensive." He emphasized that while the system is designed to handle single failures, it is not equipped to manage multiple incidents occurring simultaneously.
The blackout, which lasted for at least five hours, saw Spain rely on emergency power supplies from France and Morocco to restore electricity. Within 24 hours, the country managed to recover 100% of the lost energy, but the incident has sparked a heated debate about the reliability of the electrical grid and the role of renewable energy sources.
Morales cautioned against prematurely blaming renewable energy for the outage, stating, "We need to determine the cause of the first voltage dip before pointing fingers. The system is designed to handle failures across various sources, including nuclear, solar, and wind. If only one component fails, the system is equipped to compensate." He also highlighted that many economic interests are at play within the electrical sector, complicating the discourse surrounding the outage.
The controversy surrounding the blackout is expected to persist for months. Morales compared the current situation to the Tenerife blackout of 2023, which took three months to investigate, despite involving only two companies. With over 300 companies implicated in the recent incident, he anticipates extensive technical discussions and attempts to shift blame among the parties involved.
As the investigation unfolds, the focus will remain on understanding the dynamics of the electrical system and ensuring that such an incident does not occur again. Morales stressed the importance of balancing electricity production and consumption, stating, "The most crucial aspect of any electrical system is to match production with consumption. If there is a significant imbalance, as we saw on April 28, it can lead to a blackout." He concluded by asserting that while the system is reliable, it is essential to remain vigilant and prepared for potential failures.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within the electrical grid and the critical need for ongoing improvements and innovations to enhance its resilience.
