According to the latest updates coming from Spain and Portugal, a major unexplained power outage hit the two countries this Monday. The power crises quickly became the reason for major chaos on the streets of Spain and Portugal. Millions of people from the two countries were affected by the power outage that resulted in jammed roads and disrupted airport operations as well. If you are someone who wants to know more about the Spain power outage, this article is for you. It brings you everything you need to know about the power crisis that left the two countries in a huge, chaotic mess.
What Exactly Happened During The Spain-Portugal Power Blackout?
The power outage that hit Spain and Portugal this Monday affected around 60 million from major cities like Madrid, Lisbon, Barcelona, Seville, and Valencia. Multiple emergency call meetings were summoned by the administration to coordinate a response to the crisis. Portugal’s grid operator, Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN), reported that the interruptions started at 11:33 AM WEST. The outage even impacted parts of France, along with the whole Iberian Peninsula. According to Spain’s electric network, Red Electrica de España (REE), “el cero”-the zero struck the two countries. Lighting, as well as the power outlets, were shut down during the outage, and the tube systems also stopped working.
Also read: Spain Power Outage: Cause & Recovery Update
What Was The Cause Of The Power Outage In Spain And Portugal?
The reason behind the power outage is still not crystal clear. However, the Portuguese Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro, claimed the outage actually began in Spain. According to what Montenegro said, the extensive shutdowns were a result of the severe temperature anomaly. He also stated that a rare atmospheric phenomenon produced this anomaly. Taco Engelaar, general director of Neara, also stated that the variation in the temperature causes a slight change in the conductor parameters. He further added that this results in an imbalance in the frequency.
The REN also explained how extreme temperature variations in the interiors of Spain actually resulted in “anomalous oscillations in the very high voltage lines (400 kV),” known as the “induced atmospheric vibration.” These oscillations ultimately result in electrical system synchronization problems and successive disturbances across the interconnected European network.
Was the Spanish power Outage A Cyber Attack?
Antonio Costa, the President of the European Council, officially clarified through a post on X that there is no evidence of a potential cyber attack as of yet. He further added that the cause of this power outage is still unknown and under investigation. Teresa Ribera, the senior vice president of the European Commission, also confirmed that there is no proof that the outage was an intentional attack.
Is International Connectivity A Possible Reason For The Spain Outage?
According to what Engelaar said in his statement, international connectivity is an essential and vital part useful for sharing clean energy. However, it also opens the possibility of failures spreading quickly. Georg Zachmann, a senior fellow at Bruegel, on the other hand, stated that international connectivity helps prevent issues from getting even worse. He also stated that it should be relatively easier to bring back the electricity system with the help of the French interconnector.
Spain Power Outage Restored On Monday
According to what the Spanish operator stated, it started restoring voltage in the Iberian Peninsula’s north, south, and west by mid-afternoon. During the late hours of Monday, the operators reported that around 61% of the power had already been restored. Several Portuguese municipalities also had their power restored, including the Lisbon city centre. Grid operator REN stated that a total of 85 power substations are already back to being operational.
