The massive blackout in Spain, Portugal, and France exposed a global power crisis. Now what?
In the days that followed, experts and media outlets scrambled to explain what had happened. Was it a cyberattack? Human error? A structural failure? More than two months later, official investigations are ongoing. Early statements by the Spanish government confirmed that although no single cause has emerged, it wasn't a cyberattack.
While the exact cause remains under review, one thing the energy industry agrees on is clear: This can't keep happening.
'A relentless cycle of evolution'
'Power systems are not only extremely complex, they are also in a relentless cycle of evolution—with new parts coming in and old ones going out—all while remaining stable and dependable 24/7,' says Richard Schomberg, special envoy for smart electrification at the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
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