Spain Identifies Causes Behind April’s Nationwide Blackout

Spain has concluded its investigation into the April nationwide blackout that affected millions, attributing the crisis to planning missteps and technical issues while ruling out cyberattack as a cause.

The Spanish government has unveiled the findings of its investigation into the unprecedented nationwide blackout that occurred in April, affecting millions across the Iberian Peninsula. The report, released two months post-incident, attributes the blackout to planning errors and cascading technical failures, dismissing initial concerns about a potential cyberattack.

Sara Aagesen, the minister of ecological transition, explained that a surge in voltage triggered a series of minor disruptions within the national grid, compounded by the presence of offline power plants that could have mitigated the crisis. The report specifically criticizes the national grid operator and private energy companies for their inadequate responses to the situation, which ultimately led to significant chaos, including halted public transport and traffic disruptions.

In response, the state-owned power company, Red Eléctrica, has contested these claims, asserting that it had made reasonable attempts to address the problems as they arose. The government’s report marks a critical analysis of the incident, highlighting the necessity for reform within Spain’s electrical infrastructure.

While European officials had previously suggested that a cyberattack was unlikely, the Spanish government initially left that option on the table, prompting widespread calls for investigations from various regulatory bodies. Spanish citizens have expressed frustration over the lengthy wait for answers, while Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had promised swift accountability in the wake of the outage.

Aagesen emphasized the ongoing need for improvement within Spain’s energy system to avert future crises, reassuring the public that measures are being advanced to bolster grid protection and performance.