Spain’s Government Points Finger at Grid Operator and Private Firms Over Massive Iberian Blackout

Spain’s government was primarily blamed for the catastrophic blackout that struck the Iberian Peninsula on April 28, on its semi-state grid operator and private electricity producers, igniting a fierce debate over management, infrastructure planning, and regulatory responsibilities.

Shortly after 12:30 pm CEST on April 28, a series of power plant disconnections in southern Spain- specifically near Granada, Badajoz, and Seville triggered oscillations that overwhelmed the national grid operator and private electricity producers, igniting a fierce debate over management, infrastructure planning, and regulatory responsibilities. Within twenty seconds, even the interconnection with France had tripped, collapsing the whole Iberian electricity grid. 60% of the region’s power supply, roughly 30GW, vanished, plunging tens of millions into darkness across Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and parts of southwestern France. The blackout had disrupted public transport, traffic controls, telecommunication, and essential services; by the day’s end, power was partially restored with full recovery by the next morning in Portugal and the early hours of April 29 in Spain

After the government had conducted a months-long investigation, Ecological Transition Minister Sara Aagesen detailed a faulty mid-June report. Spain’s grid authority failed to forecast adequate “dynamic voltage capacity” for peak daytime demand. This report stated REE decided against activating an additional thermal power plant, and in doing this, the system was underprepared to dampen a sudden overvoltage surge.

The companies, including major players like Iberdrola, Endesa, and Naturgy, were contracted to absorb reactive voltage spikes. The ministry accused them of not absorbing the expected voltage and then aggravating the surge.

The outage was not caused by cyber sabotage; national security agencies found no evidence of hacking. The were no causal links to Spain’s high share of renewable solar and wind made up 59% of electricity that day-nor to the ongoing nuclear phase-out.

This overachieving verdict of the incident stems from a malfunctioning chain reaction triggered by both poor grid planning and inadequate responses by private firms. Grid operator REE is partially state-owned and overseen by the president, Beatriz Corredor (a former housing minister affiliated with the ruling PSOE) has issued her own rebuttal. A separate briefing, REE’s operations chief Concha Sánchez acknowledged detecting power plant disconnections and unexpected demand surges. While admitting that some generators tripped improperly, she defended REE’s planning, asserting all voltage levels were within legal limits and the REE had adequate voltage control strategies in place. REE maintains that conventional plants, not REE, have failed to stabilize the grid.

A full technical report from REE is expected in the coming weeks. Aagesen’s investigation refutes the notion that transitioning away from nuclear energy or expanding renewables played a role. This blackout has stemmed from grid stability shortcomings, not energy mix. The debate revived questions over Spain’s commitment to renewable targets, 81% renewables by 2030, and the pace of nuclear decommissioning. The opposition argues that the government prioritized renewables without ensuring grid resilience. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez defended the government’s approach, promised tighter oversight, and held both REE and private generators to account. He affirmed that judicial and administrative measures, including potential compensation claims and regulatory sanctions, will follow.

There has been growing reliance on renewable sources, and fewer conventional spinning generators diminish a grid’s ability to respond to rapid voltage changes. This event, REE’s miscalculation, left the system vulnerable.

There was Reactive Power Management, where contracted generators are tasked with absorbing reactive voltage. Failure to perform this function worsened this surge. Government-mandated reforms will target stronger voltage regulation, increased coordination between REE and generators, and improved ties with the broader European grid to mitigate inter-area instability. April’s Iberian blackout resulted from cascading collapse caused not by external interference or green ambition, but by technical missteps at multiple levels: REE’s faulty planning and private generators’ failure to manage voltage spikes. There are many reports due and accountability in the air, Spain’s energy landscape is poised for major regulatory reshaping. Keep Reading QuestEuro for more news.

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