A massive power outage struck Spain and Portugal on April 28, 2025, affecting the entire Iberian Peninsula, as well as parts of France and Andorra. Key details and the latest news based on available information:
What Happened?
- Time and Scale: The blackout began around 12:30 local time on April 28 and lasted up to 18 hours in some regions. In Spain, 15 gigawatts of electricity (60% of national demand) were lost within seconds, causing grid instability. Portugal and parts of France experienced repercussions due to the interconnected European energy system.
- Consequences:
- Metro systems, trains, and traffic lights stopped, leading to transport chaos in Madrid, Lisbon, and Barcelona.
- Airports, including Madrid’s Barajas, canceled or delayed hundreds of flights.
- Hospitals switched to backup generators, while ATMs and mobile networks partially failed.
- Stores saw long queues, with food and water supplies quickly depleting in some cities.
- Casualties: At least five deaths were reported, potentially linked to the outage, including a family of three. Authorities are investigating these cases.
Causes of the Blackout
The exact cause remains unknown, but several theories exist:
- Atmospheric Phenomenon: Portugal’s grid operator REN initially suggested a “rare atmospheric phenomenon” in Spain, possibly linked to rapid temperature changes, may have caused vibrations in high-voltage lines. However, Spain’s meteorological agency AEMET denied any unusual weather or temperature fluctuations on April 28.
- Cable Damage: There are suspicions that a fire on Mount Alaric in southwestern France may have damaged a high-voltage cable connecting France and Spain.
- Issue in Spain: Portugal’s Prime Minister Luís Montenegro stated the problem originated in Spain, not Portugal. Specifically, the Santa Llogaia substation (near Figueres, Spain), which connects the French and Spanish grids, shut down after a sudden power drop.
- Generator Failure: In Spain’s Extremadura region, where a significant portion of energy comes from solar plants, a loss of power generation may have triggered a cascading failure.
- Cyberattack: A Spanish court is exploring the possibility of a cyberattack, investigating it as a potential act of terrorism. However, Spain’s grid operator Red Eléctrica and Portugal’s REN have preliminarily ruled out a cyberattack. Portugal’s National Cybersecurity Center also found no evidence of malicious interference.
Power Restoration
- Spain: By the morning of April 29, 99.95% of power was restored, though some isolated issues persisted. The state of emergency was lifted, except in Valencia.
- Portugal: REN reported that by 23:30 on April 28, all 6.4 million customers had power restored, and the grid was “fully stabilized.”
- Transport: Airports and train stations gradually resumed operations, but delays continued into April 29. Air passengers were advised to check flight statuses.
Official Response
- Spain: Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez vowed to “get to the bottom” of the blackout’s causes, stating it must not happen again. Investigations are ongoing, with no hypotheses ruled out.
- Portugal: Prime Minister Montenegro requested an independent audit of both countries’ energy systems from the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators.
- EU: European Council President António Costa and European Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera stated there is no evidence of a cyberattack, but the final cause is yet to be determined.
Economic Impact
- Spain’s business lobby CEOE estimated losses from the blackout at €1.6 billion (0.1% of GDP). Oil refineries may require a week to fully recover, and some industrial furnaces were damaged.
- Spain’s tourism sector experienced minimal losses, though telecommunication issues complicated the situation.
Public Reaction
- On social media platform X, conspiracy theories emerged, ranging from cyberattacks to blame on renewable energy. Some posts reported panic, empty stores, and inflated prices for power banks (up to €12,500).
- Conversely, some in Spain and Portugal saw the blackout as an opportunity to disconnect from devices and spend time with loved ones. Residents shared stories of using old radios and candles to cope with the day without power.
Why It Matters
This blackout was the largest in Europe in two decades, highlighting the vulnerability of energy grids. The International Energy Agency (IEA) notes that by 2040, 80 million kilometers of power grids must be upgraded or replaced to ensure energy security and meet climate goals.
What’s Next?
- Investigations into the causes are ongoing, with experts suggesting the exact reason may take weeks to pinpoint.
- Spain and Portugal plan to review their energy systems to prevent similar incidents in the future.
