MADRID — An unexplained series of power generation failures in southern Spain sparked a massive blackout across Spain and Portugal on April 28, Spain’s energy minister revealed on Wednesday.
Energy Minister Sara Aagesen informed lawmakers that the disruption began with a sudden power loss at a substation in Granada, followed closely by similar incidents in Badajoz and Seville. The cascading effect led to the loss of 2.2 gigawatts of electricity, triggering widespread disconnections across the Iberian Peninsula.
While investigations are still underway, this is the first time Spanish authorities have publicly identified the blackout’s potential points of origin. “We’re processing millions of data points and have determined that the issue began in Granada, Badajoz, and Seville,” Aagesen said. However, she cautioned that identifying the precise cause would take time, noting the complexity of the event.
The minister confirmed that cyberattacks, grid overload, and supply-demand mismatches have been ruled out. Investigators are also examining unusual voltage fluctuations and reports of instability in the grid prior to the blackout.
Responding to accusations from opposition lawmakers, Aagesen denied that the government ignored prior warnings about the risk of such a failure. “There were no alerts, no prior warnings,” she stated, urging patience before assigning blame.
The outage has reignited debate over Spain’s energy strategy, particularly its heavy reliance on renewables and its plan to shut down nuclear power plants by 2035. Critics argue that a low presence of traditional power sources like nuclear and fossil fuels may have reduced “grid inertia,” potentially contributing to the grid’s vulnerability.
Defending current policy, Aagesen said renewables have helped reduce energy costs and enhanced Spain’s energy independence. “A cleaner energy mix protects us from external shocks and enhances our resilience,” she said.
While reaffirming the government’s commitment to renewable energy, Aagesen said extending the life of nuclear plants could be considered—if safety and cost standards are met and if it supports the reliability of supply.