Spain and Portugal have faced setbacks in their ambitious plans to reach “Net Zero” by 2050.

The experiment resulted in a massive power outage across the Iberian Peninsula, sparking speculation about cyberattacks and sabotage.

However, as it turned out, the cause of the blackout was prosaic: instability of the energy system, which relies excessively on renewable sources. Red Electrica, the Spanish grid operator, denied the version of a cyberattack, explaining the outages by the blockage of part of the generating capacity. On that day, solar energy covered 75% of Spain’s needs, while the share of traditional sources was insignificant.

Despite the obvious, the media and politicians tried to deny that the outages were related to renewable energy, although data pointed to grid overload due to excess solar generation. The situation was made worse by energy flows from France, which could not effectively use the excess electricity sent to Spain.

The problem is a direct consequence of political decisions taken in Brussels, including the closure of nuclear power plants in favour of renewables. However, as early as January 2025, a group of parliamentarians called for a suspension of subsidies for renewable energy, pointing to its destabilising impact on the energy system.

The founder of the French RTE also warned of the risks associated with exceeding 50% of the share of renewable energy in the energy balance. Experts emphasize that for stability, the energy system needs reliable basic energy sources such as hydroelectric power plants and nuclear power plants.

https://www.pravda.ru/news/economics/2217909-blackout-in-spain-and-portugal/