Latest news with #RedElectricadeEspana
Bloomberg
23-07-2025
- Science
- Bloomberg
Inside the Blackout That Froze the Iberian Power Grid
When the Iberian electrical grid blacked out earlier this year, there were real-life consequences. Widespread disruption of transportation, communication networks and essential services left Spain and Portugal temporarily paralyzed. Following the event, two separate reports were released by the Spanish government and the grid operator, Red Electrica de Espana, where both agreed that voltage fluctuations were the root cause of the outage. However, they then went on to present conflicting opinions as to why authorities were unable to bring voltage under control. So why did this voltage fluctuation occur in the first place, and what actions have been taken to protect the Iberian electricity grid from future incidents? On today's show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Eva Gonzalez Isla, a senior associate from BNEF's grids team, to discuss findings from her research note 'Iberia Blackout: Blame Before Facts'.
DW
21-05-2025
- Business
- DW
What the blackout in Spain, Portugal says about renewables – DW – 05/20/2025
The recent power outage in Spain and Portugal has raised questions about the stability of solar and wind power. It also reignited the debate around the phasing out of nuclear energy. At 12:33 p.m. on April 28, swathes of Spain and parts of Portugal were plunged into darkness: trains were stranded, phone and internet coverage faltered, and ATMs stopped working. The electricity blackout across the Iberian Peninsula is believed to be one of the worst in Europe's history. While most power was restored by the next morning, weeks later the investigation into the blackout is ongoing. Last week, Spain's energy minister Sara Aagesen said so far it was clear an abrupt loss of power at a substation in Granada, followed by failures in Badajoz and Seville, led to a loss of 2.2 gigawatts of electricity, but that the precise cause was unknown. In the wait for answers, some have pointed the finger at Spain's high reliance on renewables and reignited debates over plans to phase out nuclear power by 2035. How Spain's nationwide power outage hit businesses To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Are renewables to blame for the blackout? Spain is one of the leaders in Europe's green energy transition and has ambitious targets for renewables to provide 81% of its electricity by 2030. Last year they accounted for a record 56% of the country's electricity and solar capacity grew at almost twice the European rate. Shortly before the blackout, renewables accounted for around 70% of Spain's electricity production, mostly from solar. This has been used by members of the opposition party and nuclear advocates to suggest that overreliance on renewables was at fault — which both the country's grid operator Red Electrica de Espana and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez have disputed. Nuclear currently provides around 20% of the country's electricity. While solar and wind are dependent on weather, nuclear can provide a relatively continuous baseload power. However, Sanchez has said there is no evidence more nuclear capacity would have prevented April 28th's events. Using the event to speculate against solar is more politically motivated than factually-based, said Rutger Schlatmann, head of solar energy at Helmholtz Zentrum, an energy research center in Berlin. Schlatmann points to the fact that the high percentage of renewables in the grid was nothing unique. "This has happened many times before." Earlier last month, Spain managed to cover 100% of electricity demand on a weekday with renewables alone. Schlatmann added that countries like Germany also have experienced a high percentage of electricity from renewables while remaining one of the most stable power systems in the world. How to improve grid stability? Experts suggest the Spanish blackout highlights grid stability issues more than problems with renewable energy sources. "It's mainly that the system has not adapted on the grid scale enough yet to the massive change towards these renewable sources," said Schlatmann, adding many electricity grids still reflect the demands of a fossil fuel system. The grid is often described as the most complex system ever devised by humans — encompassing an intricate network of generators, transmission and distribution lines that all need to be kept in balance to function. Nuclear, coal and gas power plants have huge steel generators that provide large rotating mass — often referred to as inertia — that can maintain stability if there are fluctuations in the grid. While removing these from our power grid changes the way a system behaves, it is now possible to replace their stabilizing function, explains Robert Pietzcker, senior scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. "You can do virtual inertia, like with these inverters that have grid-forming capabilities." Inverters with grid forming capabilities help create a type of "synthetic inertia" and stabilize fluctuations in the electricity system. The technology to create synthetic inertia — which involves electrical storage and improved control systems — are already available on a commercial scale but aren't yet implemented on a national or European scale, said Schlatmann. Other solutions that can also provide stability are flywheels, with the largest in the world today built in Ireland. Flywheels use cylindrical rotors that accelerate at a high speed, storing kinetic energy that can be used quickly when needed. How hackers could attack Europe's energy grid To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Better battery storage and increasing flexibility in grid systems is important, said Stefan Thomas, head of energy, transport and climate policy at the Wuppertal Institute in Germany. "More connections to neighboring countries that can help to keep the system in synchronization around the 50 Hertz." Maintaining a stable 50 Hertz frequency is essential to the stability of Europe's electricity grid. He highlights Germany as an example of a country with good connections to other countries and a high degree of stability. Things such as electric vehicles — which can store power and then feed it back into the grid when needed — could also help provide flexibility, added Thomas. For regions like northern Europe, that may experience periods of little wind and sun, backup capacity, which could be provided by sources such as hydrogen turbines, may be necessary, said Pietzcker. Investments into renewables going strong, but more needed for grids Electric vehicles, chips, AI and air conditioning are helping to fuel a rapid growth in electricity demand. The technological solutions for a low carbon and stable grid are now available, said Pietzcker. "With today's understanding of systems, you can design stable systems that will be as resilient based on renewables." While grid stability is holding back the roll out of renewables in Europe a little, he says in the EU the commission is strongly pushing for more interconnectedness. The amount of investment in grids globally needs to double by 2030 to over $600 billion (€532 billion) a year, according to the International Energy Agency. The annual investment into grids has stayed almost the same since 2010, while investments into renewables have nearly doubled. In the wake of Spain's blackout, Jordi Sevilla, the former president of the country's grid operator Red Electrica, told Spanish media it was clear that the country's grid required funding to adapt to the reality of the new generation mix. Edited by: Sarah Steffen
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
What does the recent blackout tell us about renewables?
What does the recent blackout tell us about renewables? (AP) At 12:33 p.m. on April 28, swathes of Spain and parts of Portugal were plunged into darkness: trains were stranded, phone and internet coverage faltered, and ATMs stopped working. The electricity blackout across the Iberian Peninsula is believed to be one of the worst in Europe's history. While most power was restored by the next morning, weeks later the investigation into the blackout is ongoing. Last week, Spain's energy minister Sara Aagesen said so far it was clear an abrupt loss of power at a substation in Granada, followed by failures in Badajoz and Seville, led to a loss of 2.2 gigawatts of electricity, but that the precise cause was unknown. In the wait for answers, some have pointed the finger at Spain's high reliance on renewables and reignited debates over plans to phase out nuclear power by 2035. Are renewables to blame? Spain is one of the leaders in Europe's green energy transition and has ambitious targets for renewables to provide 81% of its electricity by 2030. Last year they accounted for a record 56% of the country's electricity and solar capacity grew at almost twice the European rate. Shortly before the blackout, renewables accounted for around 70% of Spain's electricity production, mostly from solar. This has been used by members of the opposition party and nuclear advocates to suggest that overreliance on renewables was at fault — which both the country's grid operator Red Electrica de Espana and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez have disputed. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch Bitcoin và Ethereum - Không cần ví! IC Markets BẮT ĐẦU NGAY Nuclear currently provides around 20% of the country's electricity. While solar and wind are dependent on weather, nuclear can provide a relatively continuous baseload power. However, Sanchez has said there is no evidence more nuclear capacity would have prevented April 28th's events. Using the event to speculate against solar is more politically motivated than factually-based, said Rutger Schlatmann , head of solar energy at Helmholtz Zentrum, an energy research center in Berlin. Schlatmann points to the fact that the high percentage of renewables in the grid was nothing unique. "This has happened many times before." Earlier last month, Spain managed to cover 100% of electricity demand on a weekday with renewables alone. Schlatmann added that countries like Germany also have experienced a high percentage of electricity from renewables while remaining one of the most stable power systems in the world. How to improve grid stability? Experts suggest the Spanish blackout highlights grid stability issues more than problems with renewable energy sources. "It's mainly that the system has not adapted on the grid scale enough yet to the massive change towards these renewable sources," said Schlatmann, adding many electricity grids still reflect the demands of a fossil fuel system. The grid is often described as the most complex system ever devised by humans — encompassing an intricate network of generators, transmission and distribution lines that all need to be kept in balance to function. Nuclear, coal and gas power plants have huge steel generators that provide large rotating mass — often referred to as inertia — that can maintain stability if there are fluctuations in the grid. While removing these from our power grid changes the way a system behaves, it is now possible to replace their stabilizing function, explains Robert Pietzcker , senior scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. "You can do virtual inertia, like with these inverters that have grid-forming capabilities." Inverters with grid forming capabilities help create a type of "synthetic inertia" and stabilize fluctuations in the electricity system. The technology to create synthetic inertia — which involves electrical storage and improved control systems — are already available on a commercial scale but aren't yet implemented on a national or European scale, said Schlatmann. Other solutions that can also provide stability are flywheels, with the largest in the world today built in Ireland. Flywheels use cylindrical rotors that accelerate at a high speed, storing kinetic energy that can be used quickly when needed. Better battery storage and increasing flexibility in grid systems is important, said Stefan Thomas , head of energy, transport and climate policy at the Wuppertal Institute in Germany. "More connections to neighboring countries that can help to keep the system in synchronization around the 50 Hertz." Maintaining a stable 50 Hertz frequency is essential to the stability of Europe's electricity grid. He highlights Germany as an example of a country with good connections to other countries and a high degree of stability. Things such as electric vehicles — which can store power and then feed it back into the grid when needed — could also help provide flexibility, added Thomas . For regions like northern Europe, that may experience periods of little wind and sun, backup capacity, which could be provided by sources such as hydrogen turbines, may be necessary, said Pietzcker. Investments into renewables going strong, but more needed for grids Electric vehicles, chips, AI and air conditioning are helping to fuel a rapid growth in electricity demand. The technological solutions for a low carbon and stable grid are now available, said Pietzcker. "With today's understanding of systems, you can design stable systems that will be as resilient based on renewables." While grid stability is holding back the roll out of renewables in Europe a little, he says in the EU the commission is strongly pushing for more interconnectedness. The amount of investment in grids globally needs to double by 2030 to over $600 billion (€532 billion) a year, according to the International Energy Agency. The annual investment into grids has stayed almost the same since 2010, while investments into renewables have nearly doubled. In the wake of Spain's blackout, Jordi Sevilla, the former president of the country's grid operator Red Electrica, told Spanish media it was clear that the country's grid required funding to adapt to the reality of the new generation mix.
DW
20-05-2025
- Business
- DW
What does the recent blackout tell us about renewables? – DW – 05/20/2025
Last month's power outage in Spain and Portugal has prompted questions over the stability of solar and wind. In its wake, debates around the phasing out of nuclear energy have been reignited. At 12.33pm on the 28th of April, swathes of Spain and parts of Portugal were plunged into darkness: trains were stranded, phone and internet coverage faltered, and ATMs stopped working. The electricity blackout across the Iberian Peninsula is believed to be one of the worst in Europe's history. While most power was restored by the next morning, weeks later the investigation into the blackout is ongoing. Last week, Spain's energy minister Sara Aagesen said so far it was clear an abrupt loss of power at a substation in Granada, followed by failures in Badajoz and Seville, led to a loss of 2.2 gigawatts of electricity, but that the precise cause was unknown. In the wait for answers, some have pointed the finger at Spain's high reliance on renewables and reignited debates over plans to phase out nuclear power by 2035. How Spain's nationwide power outage hit businesses To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Are renewables to blame? Spain is one of the leaders in Europe's green energy transition and has ambitious targets for renewables to provide 81% of its electricity by 2030. Last year they accounted for a record 56% of the country's electricity and solar capacity grew at almost twice the European rate. Shortly before the blackout, renewables accounted for around 70% of Spain's electricity production, mostly from solar. This has been used by members of the opposition party and nuclear advocates to suggest that overreliance on renewables was at fault — which both the country's grid operator Red Electrica de Espana and prime minister Pedro Sanchez have disputed. Nuclear currently provides around 20% of the country's electricity. While solar and wind are dependent on weather, nuclear can provide a relatively continuous baseload power. However, Sanchez has said there is no evidence more nuclear capacity would have prevented April 28th's events. Using the event to speculate against solar is more politically motivated than factually-based, said Rutger Schlatmann, head of solar energy at Helmholtz Zentrum, an energy research center in Berlin. Schlatmann points to the fact that the high percentage of renewables in the grid was nothing unique. "This has happened many times before." Earlier last month Spain managed to cover 100% of electricity demand on a weekday with renewables alone. Schlatmann added that countries like Germany also have experienced a high percentage of electricity from renewables while remaining one of the most stable power systems in the world. How to improve grid stability? Experts suggest the Spanish blackout highlights grid stability issues more than problems with renewable energy sources. "It's mainly that the system has not adapted on the grid scale enough yet to the massive change towards these renewable sources," said Schlatmann, adding many electricity grids still reflect the demands of a fossil fuel system. The grid is often described as the most complex system ever devised by humans — encompassing an intricate network of generators, transmission and distribution lines that all need to be kept in balance to function. Nuclear, coal and gas power plants have huge steel generators that provide large rotating mass — often referred to as inertia — that can maintain stability if there are fluctuations in the grid. While removing these from our power grid changes the way a system behaves, it is now possible to replace their stabilizing function, explains Robert Pietzcker, senior scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. "You can do virtual inertia, like with these inverters that have grid forming capabilities." Inverters with grid forming capabilities help create a type of "synthetic inertia" and stabilize fluctuations in the electricity system. The technology to create synthetic inertia — which involves electrical storage and improved control systems — are already available on a commercial scale but aren't yet implemented on a national or European scale, said Schlatmann. Other solutions that can also provide stability are flywheels, with the largest in the world today built in Ireland. Flywheels use cylindrical rotors that accelerate at a high speed, storing kinetic energy that can be used quickly when needed. How hackers could attack Europe's energy grid To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Better battery storage and increasing flexibility in grid systems is important, said Stefan Thomas, head of energy, transport and climate policy at the Wuppertal Institute in Germany. "More connections to neighboring countries that can help to keep the system in synchronization around the 50 Hertz." Maintaining a stable 50 Hertz frequency is essential to the stability of Europe's electricity grid. He highlights Germany as an example of a country with good connections to other countries and a high degree of stability. Things such as electric vehicles — which can store power and then feed it back into the grid when needed — could also help provide flexibility, added Thomas. For regions like northern Europe, that may experience periods of little wind and sun, back up capacity, which could be provided by sources such as hydrogen turbines, may be necessary, said Pietzcker. Investments into renewables going strong, but more needed for grids Electric vehicles, chips, AI and air conditioning are helping to fuel a rapid growth in electricity demand. The technological solutions for a low carbon and stable grid are now available, said Pietzcker. "You can clearly with today's understanding of systems, you can design stable systems that will be as resilient based on renewables." While grid stability is holding back the roll out of renewables in Europe a little, he says in the EU the commission is strongly pushing more interconnectedness. The amount of investment in grids globally needs to double by 2030 to over $600 billion a year, according to the International Energy Agency. The annual investment into grids has stayed almost the same since 2010, while investments into renewables have nearly doubled. In the wake of Spain's blackout, Jordi Sevilla, the former president of the country's grid operator Red Electrica, told Spanish media it was clear that the country's grid required funding to adapt to the reality of the new generation mix. Edited by: Sarah Steffen
CNBC
12-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Spain's unprecedented power outage sparks a blackout blame game over green energy
A catastrophic power outage affecting much of Spain, Portugal and the south of France has thrust the role of renewables and energy security into the spotlight. An abrupt and widespread blackout, one of Europe's worst in living memory, affected the entire Iberian Peninsula on April 28. The outage, which lasted for several hours, plunged much of the region into darkness, stranded thousands of train passengers and left millions without phone or internet coverage or access to cash from ATMs. Spanish authorities have since launched several investigations to determine the root cause of the incident, including a probe into whether a cyberattack could be to blame. Alongside Spanish opposition parties, some external observers have flagged renewables and net-zero emissions targets as possible reasons for the outage, particularly given Spain and Portugal both rely on high levels of wind and solar for their electricity grid. "It's very sad to see what's happened to Portugal and Spain and so many people there, but you know, when you hitch your wagon to the weather, it's just a risky endeavor," U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNBC's "Power Lunch" on April 28. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and the country's grid operator Red Electrica de Espana (REE) have both said record levels of renewable energy were not at fault for the blackout. European Union energy chief Dan Jorgensen, meanwhile, said that there was "nothing unusual" about the sources of energy supplying electricity to the system at the time of the outage. "So, the causes of the blackout cannot be reduced to a specific source of energy, for instance renewables," he added. European energy technology companies called for observers to refrain from drawing their own conclusions in the absence of a formal explanation from authorities. Henrik Andersen, CEO of Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas, said he'd encourage "a degree of statesmanship" over the blackout, particularly as Spanish policymakers continue to investigate. "First of all, energy security means that you can run societies without having blackouts. That's stating the obvious," Andersen told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Tuesday. "Everyone is grasping quick root causes and blaming each other, and I simply just don't want to go there because until we know the root cause of why grids can fail across Spain and Portugal, let's not second guess or try to blame someone at cybersecurity or blame individual energy sources," he added. "Europe needs more energy -- and we probably also need a stronger grid. That goes without saying," Andersen said. Siemens Energy CEO Christian Bruch, meanwhile, said the German energy tech group was holding talks with the relevant transmission and utility operators following the blackout. "What you do see is that when you build an energy system, you need to think about the generation, like solar, wind, gas, whatever, but you also need to think about how the overall system on the grid side [is[ operating and how you stabilize that," Bruch told CNBC on Thursday. "This is sometimes underestimated in its complexity, and this is why products from us for grid stabilizations are in demand at the moment to balance these things out," he continued. "It's possible to solve it but it will require investments and it's not easy. It's not just a couple of solar cells and some batteries. It's a little bit more complex than this," Bruch said. For those on the ground at the time of the outage, the lack of power underlined the challenges of a digital society. "Cash suddenly becomes really important," Roseanna, a resident of the southern Spanish city of Málaga, told CNBC. She said she only had 40 euros ($45.16) available when the power cut just after midday. "Obviously you can't get money out and you can't pay with card, so it's certainly important to have a little bit of cash in your pocket at all times," she continued. "We've gone all digital but the system's ruined if there's no electricity," Roseanna said.
