Latest news with #ConchaSanchez
Reuters
4 hours ago
- General
- Reuters
Explainer: What caused the Iberian power outage and what happens next?
LONDON, June 18 (Reuters) - Spain's government and its grid operator have issued separate findings into the causes that led to the massive blackout across Spain and Portugal on April 28, which caused gridlock in cities and left thousands stranded on trains and in elevators across the Iberian Peninsula. The Spanish government said in a report on Tuesday that Spain's grid operator Redeia ( opens new tab miscalculated the correct mix of energy in the system. The government also blamed some conventional power plants, or thermal power plants using coal, gas and nuclear, for failing to help maintain an appropriate voltage level and as a result, the grid was unable to cope with a surge in voltage that triggered a cascade of power plant disconnections, ultimately leading to the outage. Voltage - the force that drives electric current - must be kept within a safe range to maintain grid stability. Redeia said on Wednesday that a surge in voltage was the immediate cause of the outage but blamed it on conventional power plants failing to control the voltage level. It pointed instead to anomalies in the disconnection of power plants on April 28 and an unexpected spike in electricity demand from the transport network. Redeia rejected the claim that its energy mix miscalculation was a key factor. Grid operators typically use a raft of tools to ensure power systems have the right frequency, voltage and supply to keep them stable. The government report said the number of generators the grid had available to provide voltage control on April 28 was lower than it had in previous weeks and that not all units that should have responded did so as expected. The companies operating the plants that failed to ensure the proper voltage controls have not been named and Redeia's report also did not identify them. Spain's Energy Minister Sara Aagesen told a news briefing in Madrid that the grid operator did not have enough capacity to regulate voltage. However, Redeia's operations chief Concha Sanchez said on Wednesday that based on the grid's calculations the grid had planned adequate voltage support, but some plants did not respond as expected. No. Both the government and Redeia said renewable energy sources were not responsible for the blackout. Spain is one of Europe's biggest producers of renewable energy and has a high share of solar power, which accounted for 59% of the country's electricity at the time of the blackout. "Had conventional power plants done their job in controlling the voltage there would have been no blackout," Redeia's Sanchez said. At the time of the outage, Spain was also exporting power to France and Portugal. Energy Minister Aagesen explained that at 12:03 p.m., an "atypical" oscillation was detected in the power system. In response, the grid operator implemented standard control procedures, including reducing electricity exports to France. While these actions successfully mitigated the oscillation, they also caused a secondary effect: an increase in voltage, according to the report. The government said on Tuesday it will propose measures to strengthen the grid and improve voltage control. It also plans to better integrate the peninsula with the European grid, it said. Redeia said it will issue its full report later on Wednesday. The government report will go to the European Network of Transmission System Operators which is doing its own inquiry. Any parties found responsible for the blackout may be liable for losses incurred during the outage, subject to any legal action.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Spain's grid operator blames power plants for blackout, disputes miscalculation
By Pietro Lombardi MADRID (Reuters) -Spanish grid operator Redeia blamed power plants for the massive blackout that affected the Iberian peninsula in April, as it disputed a government report that said its failure to calculate the correct energy mix was a key factor. REE-owner Redeia's own investigation discovered anomalies in the disconnection of power plants on April 28 even though voltage in the system was within legal limits, operations chief Concha Sanchez told a news briefing on Wednesday. A combined-cycle plant that was supposed to provide stability to the system disconnected in the first seconds of the blackout when it should not have, while there was also an anomalous growth in demand from the transport network, she said. "Based on our calculation, there was enough voltage control capabilities planned" by Redeia, she said. "Had conventional power plants done their job in controlling the voltage there would have been no blackout." Aelec, which represents Spain's main electricity companies including Iberdrola and Endesa, said in a statement on Tuesday it agreed that voltage control was the main cause of the outage, but said that, as system operator, Redeia was ultimately responsible for controlling voltage. The government's report released on Tuesday said Redeia's miscalculation was one of the factors hindering the grid's ability to cope with a surge in voltage that led to the outage that caused gridlock in cities across the Iberian peninsula and left tens of thousands stranded on trains overnight or stuck in lifts. But Sanchez said the system was in "absolutely normal conditions" at noon just before the blackout and that adding another gas plant to the system to absorb additional voltage would have made no difference. Redeia, which is partly state-owned, will release its own full report on the causes of the outage, its chair, Beatriz Corredor, told the same news briefing. Corredor said she had absolute faith in Redeia's calculations and that the operator had complied with all procedures and rules.
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- General
- Straits Times
Spain's grid operator blames power plants for blackout, disputes miscalculation
A view shows Santa Llogaia electrical sub-station connected to the interconnection grid between France and Spain that tripped after a sudden, large drop in power supply and caused the major blackout in the Iberian Peninsula, in the village of Santa Llogaia d'Alguema, near Figueres, Spain April 29, 2025. REUTERS/Bruna Casas/File Photo MADRID - Spanish grid operator Redeia blamed power plants for the massive blackout that affected the Iberian peninsula in April, as it disputed a government report that said its failure to calculate the correct energy mix was a key factor. REE-owner Redeia's own investigation discovered anomalies in the disconnection of power plants on April 28 even though voltage in the system was within legal limits, operations chief Concha Sanchez told a news briefing on Wednesday. A combined-cycle plant that was supposed to provide stability to the system disconnected in the first seconds of the blackout when it should not have, while there was also an anomalous growth in demand from the transport network, she said. "Based on our calculation, there was enough voltage control capabilities planned" by Redeia, she said. "Had conventional power plants done their job in controlling the voltage there would have been no blackout." Aelec, which represents Spain's main electricity companies including Iberdrola and Endesa, said in a statement on Tuesday it agreed that voltage control was the main cause of the outage, but said that, as system operator, Redeia was ultimately responsible for controlling voltage. The government's report released on Tuesday said Redeia's miscalculation was one of the factors hindering the grid's ability to cope with a surge in voltage that led to the outage that caused gridlock in cities across the Iberian peninsula and left tens of thousands stranded on trains overnight or stuck in lifts. But Sanchez said the system was in "absolutely normal conditions" at noon just before the blackout and that adding another gas plant to the system to absorb additional voltage would have made no difference. Redeia, which is partly state-owned, will release its own full report on the causes of the outage, its chair, Beatriz Corredor, told the same news briefing. Corredor said she had absolute faith in Redeia's calculations and that the operator had complied with all procedures and rules. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
8 hours ago
- General
- The Star
Spain's grid operator disputes miscalculation in blackout report
A view shows Santa Llogaia electrical sub-station connected to the interconnection grid between France and Spain that tripped after a sudden, large drop in power supply and caused the major blackout in the Iberian Peninsula, in the village of Santa Llogaia d'Alguema, near Figueres, Spain April 29, 2025. REUTERS/Bruna Casas/File Photo MADRID (Reuters) -Spanish grid operator Redeia disputed the findings of a government report that said failure by the operator to calculate the correct mix of energy was one of the factors that led to a massive blackout in Spain and Portugal on April 28. Redeia operations chief Concha Sanchez also told a news briefing on Wednesday its own investigation had discovered anomalies in the disconnection of power plants on April 28 even though voltage in the system was within legal limits, as well as an anomalous growth in demand from the transport network. Then, in the first seconds of the blackout, a combined-cycle plant that was supposed to provide stability to the system disconnected when it should not have, she said. "Based on our calculation, there was enough voltage control capabilities planned" by Redeia, she said. "Had conventional power plants done their job in controlling the voltage there would have been no blackout." The government's report released on Tuesday said Redeia's miscalculation was one of the factors hindering the grid's ability to cope with a surge in voltage that led to the outage. According to Redeia's Sanchez, the system was in "absolutely normal conditions" at noon just before the blackout. Redeia will release its own full report on the causes of the outage, its chair, Beatriz Corredor, told the same news briefing. (Reporting by Pietro Lombardi, writing by Inti Landauro, editing by Andrei Khalip)
Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Spain's grid operator disputes miscalculation in blackout report
A view shows Santa Llogaia electrical sub-station connected to the interconnection grid between France and Spain that tripped after a sudden, large drop in power supply and caused the major blackout in the Iberian Peninsula, in the village of Santa Llogaia d'Alguema, near Figueres, Spain April 29, 2025. REUTERS/Bruna Casas/File Photo MADRID - Spanish grid operator Redeia disputed the findings of a government report that said failure by the operator to calculate the correct mix of energy was one of the factors that led to a massive blackout in Spain and Portugal on April 28. Redeia operations chief Concha Sanchez also told a news briefing on Wednesday its own investigation had discovered anomalies in the disconnection of power plants on April 28 even though voltage in the system was within legal limits, as well as an anomalous growth in demand from the transport network. Then, in the first seconds of the blackout, a combined-cycle plant that was supposed to provide stability to the system disconnected when it should not have, she said. "Based on our calculation, there was enough voltage control capabilities planned" by Redeia, she said. "Had conventional power plants done their job in controlling the voltage there would have been no blackout." The government's report released on Tuesday said Redeia's miscalculation was one of the factors hindering the grid's ability to cope with a surge in voltage that led to the outage. According to Redeia's Sanchez, the system was in "absolutely normal conditions" at noon just before the blackout. Redeia will release its own full report on the causes of the outage, its chair, Beatriz Corredor, told the same news briefing. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
