On April 28, 2025, Spain faced a huge power outage that knocked out electricity across the country and even affected parts of Portugal and France. This blackout lasted for hours, making everyone wonder how reliable our current power systems really are, especially when they depend so much on renewable energy. To get some insight into what went down, I chatted with Kathryn Porter, an energy consultant and founder of Watt-Logic, who knows a lot about how power grids work and energy security.

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What Sparked the Outage: Accident or Attack? 

Porter’s take on the situation is pretty straightforward. ‘The system operator knows what happened; they just aren’t sharing it.’ There was a lot of talk about possible cyberattacks, especially since there were strange grid issues in the UK just before the blackout. However, she thinks it might have been something much simpler:

Equipment Issues or Environmental Factors: A fire reported near some power lines might have caused electrical discharges due to smoke messing with the air.

Grid Instability: The bigger problem was that the system couldn’t handle the initial issue, exposing weaknesses in Spain’s grid setup.

‘A reliable grid should contain faults,’ Porter notes. ‘But in Spain, the failure spread quickly, tripping interconnectors and nuclear plants in just seconds.‘

Why the Grid Failed So Badly: The Renewable Energy Factor 

According to Porter, the rapid shutdown was partly because Spain‘s grid is heavy on renewables and doesn’t play nicely with the way traditional power systems work:

Inertia Matters: Traditional power plants (like gas, nuclear, and hydro) use big spinning turbines that help keep the grid stable. 

‘Think of it like a bouncy ball,’ she explains. ‘Traditional grids are more stable, so they can absorb disruptions better. Renewables don’t have that same weight and can make issues worse  they will bounce more when dropped from the same height as a less bouncy ball, and can go off in all sorts of directions, knocking other things over.‘

Renewables’ Drawbacks: Wind and solar energy generate direct current (DC), which gets changed to alternating current (AC) with electronics. When Spain lost key transmission lines, it didn’t have enough inertia (thanks to not enough gas, nuclear or hydro energy), causing a frequency crash and leading to a chain reaction of outages.

In contrast, France, which relies heavily on nuclear and hydro (both have rotating machines), managed to keep the outage from spreading too much.

Policy Missteps: Balancing Net Zero and Grid Security 

Porter doesn’t hold back on Spain’s drive to run entirely on renewable energy before the blackout:

Phase-Out of Gas Too Soon: ‘Keeping some gas plants running isn’t going to do much for emissions, but it helps avoid major blackouts.’

Real Human Costs: There were reports of carbon monoxide poisoning from people trying to heat their homes without power. ‘If people are dying because of grid issues, that’s a huge policy failure.’

What This Means for Others: A Wake-Up Call 

Spain’s blackout is a reminder that other countries are facing similar vulnerabilities:

UK’s Close Call in January 2025: Porter pointed out that Britain almost had blackouts after shutting down coal plants, leaving them with very low reserves.

Australia’s Solar Challenges: Grid managers there have to cut back on solar energy and ramp up gas just to maintain stability, definitely not cheap.

Security Weaknesses: Old infrastructure (like substations that can be easily damaged or attacked) and outdated systems increase risks.

Nuclear Power: A Chance Missed 

Porter believes nuclear energy would be a better partner for renewables:

Good Pairing: Nuclear plants provide stable power with no operational emissions and use little land.

Busting Safety Myths: ‘Chernobyl killed about 30 people; industrial accidents like Bhopal took thousands.’ When it comes to nuclear waste? It’s about the size of a Coke can for a lifetime’s worth of energy.

Regulatory Changes Needed: Rules about radiation are often overly cautious, which bumps up costs. ‘In many plants, worker exposure is still less than that of being in sunlight.‘

Different Impact: City vs. Rural Life 

The blackout hit differently depending on where you were:

In Cities: There were transportation hassles, fears of looting, and problems with digital payments that created chaos.

In Rural Areas: ‘My village hardly noticed,‘ I shared, and Porter shared. She emphasised that rural folks often have backup measures like generators and wood stoves that really help out when the grid goes down.

Leadership Scrutiny 

People criticised Spain’s Prime Minister for not communicating quickly after the outage, but Porter thinks that’s off-base. ‘Unless he’s an engineer, his job isn’t to fix the grid but to ensure aid is provided.’ Still, she points out that it’s vital to have a clear review of what happened.

Moving Forward 

Porter has some advice:

Keep Gas and Hydro: They act as a sort of backup during transitions.

Reconsider Nuclear Shutdowns: Spain’s plan to close its plants should look carefully at what happened in Germany.

Think Holistically About Sustainability: ‘Put solar panels on rooftops instead of roads or farmland.’

Big takeaway? Energy policies need to focus on reliability just as much as cutting emissions. ‘We can create a clean and secure grid,‘ Porter emphasises. ‘But we can’t let ideology get in the way of the hard facts.’

For Spain and other countries pushing for renewables, the lesson is loud and clear: transitioning to new energy sources requires patience and practicality.

About the Author
Sara Andrew is the founder of Inspire Global Media and a seasoned publicist, investigative journalist, and travel and food writer. As an editorial contributor, she brings sharp insight and a global perspective to her reporting.
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