Power Cut Impacting Spain, Portugal, and France
The Spanish grid operator has dismissed the possibility of a cyber attack being responsible for a significant power outage that affected Spain, Portugal, and parts of France on Monday.
Initial Findings
Eduardo Prieto, the operations director of Red Eléctrica, stated that preliminary investigations indicate “there was no kind of interference in the control systems,” mirroring comments made by Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro the previous day. However, the exact cause of the power cut remains unknown.
Investigation Underway
Red Eléctrica mentioned that they “cannot draw conclusions” until more definitive data is obtained. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez confirmed that investigators are working to determine the root cause and will implement necessary measures “to prevent recurrence.”
Power Loss Details
Sánchez reported that 15GW of power—60% of the demand at the time—was “suddenly lost from the system… in just five seconds.” During a news conference, Prieto highlighted two “disconnection events” occurring in rapid succession in southwestern Spain, an area known for significant solar power generation.
Supply-Demand Mismatch
One possible issue mentioned by the grid operator involves power companies temporarily disconnecting to stabilize systems when supply and demand mismatches occur. Nevertheless, Sánchez clarified that the outage was “not a problem of excessive renewables,” asserting that supply was adequate and demand was within normal ranges leading up to the incident.
Potential Causes of Instability
The core issue remains unclear, even though systems often fail in electricity supply, not limited to renewable sources. Experts indicate that the frequency of the electricity grid, which is 50Hz in Europe, can be disrupted during such mismatches, potentially damaging equipment. If numerous companies disconnect quickly to protect their systems, it might lead to a cascading blackout.
Grid Interconnection and Aftermath
Red Eléctrica also indicated that the power drop might have triggered a grid interconnection failure between Spain and France. Two main technologies are utilized for such interconnections: alternating current transmission lines and high voltage direct current lines. Thanks to connections with France, Morocco, and various energy sources, power was restored.
Clarification on Atmospheric Events
Portugal’s grid operator REN refuted initial claims regarding the blackout being caused by an unusual atmospheric phenomenon. A spokesperson stated that the agency did not issue that message, which suggested that “extreme temperature variations” in Spain led to oscillations in high voltage lines, causing synchronization failures across the interconnected European grid.
