On April 30, 2025, Spain’s grid operator, Red Eléctrica de España (REE), refuted claims that the country’s worst-ever blackout was due to its reliance on solar energy. The outage, which disrupted essential services including trains and airports, has prompted calls for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to provide explanations.
REE attributed the blackout to incidents at substations in southwestern Spain but has yet to determine the exact cause. The operator dismissed the possibility of cyberattacks and defended the stability of renewable technologies. Beatriz Corredor, head of REE, emphasized that blaming renewables is incorrect.
Opposition leaders have demanded a parliamentary investigation, citing potential failures within REE, a partly state-owned entity. Energy expert Antonio Turiel criticized the uncoordinated integration of renewables without adequate stabilization systems. Spain’s energy giant Iberdrola denied responsibility, suggesting REE clarify the issue.
The government has mandated energy companies to submit relevant data and expects €52 billion in investment by 2030 to modernize the grid, though stakeholders argue the amount is insufficient.
Source: Reuters
