Spain’s Power Grid Operator Warns of Potential Nationwide Blackout

Spain’s electricity grid operator, Red Eléctrica, has warned of a possible large-scale power outage across the country, following reports of “sharp voltage fluctuations” over the past two weeks, raising fears of a repeat of April’s blackout that left around 60 million people in Spain and Portugal without electricity for more than ten hours.

According to a document sent by the company to the National Market and Competition Commission (CNMC), and reported by Euronews on Friday, Red Eléctrica said that “sudden voltage variations could threaten the stability of supply if the proposed adjustments are not implemented.”

The company explained that the recent instability is linked to “fluctuations in renewable energy generation and the slow response of dynamic voltage control systems.”

While voltage levels remain within acceptable operational limits, the operator warned that continued irregularities could trigger a drop in demand or production, potentially undermining the stability of the national grid.

Red Eléctrica urged the immediate introduction of technical modifications and temporary operational measures, including adjustments to scheduling, secondary regulation, and voltage control, to prevent disruptions.

The warning echoes growing concerns about Europe’s power grid resilience amid the continent’s accelerating shift toward renewable energy sources, which, while sustainable, can introduce greater volatility to power systems when not sufficiently balanced with storage and stabilization mechanisms.

Spain’s energy ministry has yet to issue an official statement, but industry analysts say the operator’s alert highlights the need for faster integration of grid management technologies to ensure system reliability, especially during periods of fluctuating renewable output.