Iberian Peninsula Blackout: Voltage Control Issues in Spain Caused Massive Outage
On April 28, a widespread blackout hit the entire Iberian peninsula, leaving millions without power. The Association of European electricity grid managers, ENTSO-E, has pinpointed voltage control issues in Spain as the root cause.
The Spanish transmission system operator (TSO) was at the heart of the incident. It suddenly disconnected renewable energy plants in southern Spain, including regions like Granada, Badajoz, Sevilla, and Cáceres. This action resulted in a significant loss of over 2.5 gigawatts of generation capacity.
The abrupt disconnection triggered a cascading effect, leading to the massive power outage that affected the whole Iberian peninsula. This incident highlights the interconnected nature of the European electricity grid, with the Spanish network being a part of the broader European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E).
ENTSO-E's investigation attributes the blackout to voltage control problems in Spain's transmission network. The sudden disconnection of renewable energy plants in southern Spain caused a significant loss of generation capacity, leading to the widespread power outage. The incident underscores the importance of robust voltage control measures and coordinated efforts among European TSOs to maintain grid stability.
