A massive power cut that left Spain, Portugal, and parts of France in darkness on Monday has been ruled out as a cyber attack by the Spanish grid operator, Red Eléctrica. Operations Director Eduardo Prieto stated that there was no indication of external interference in their control systems. Both Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro echoed these findings, emphasizing the need for further investigation to determine the real cause behind the unprecedented blackout.
Spain Dismisses Cyber Attack Theory for Massive Power Failure
Spain Dismisses Cyber Attack Theory for Massive Power Failure
Spanish authorities confirm cyber attack not to blame for extensive power outage affecting Spain, Portugal, and parts of France while investigations continue to determine the actual cause.
While the exact reason remains elusive, it's emerged that 15GW of power, approximately 60% of the demand at that time, was lost abruptly within five seconds. Prieto referred to two rapid disconnection events reported in southwestern Spain, an area with considerable solar energy production. These occurrences raised questions about potential mismatches between energy supply and demand that could lead to instability in the grid.
Experts suggest several factors could have contributed to the outage. Professor Hannah Christensen of the University of Oxford explained that electricity systems frequently experience failures, and a significant drop in supply could prompt large companies with high energy demands to temporarily disconnect to prevent equipment damage. Such quick disconnections, if numerous, could initiate a cascading effect leading to a full blackout.
Prime Minister Sánchez asserted that the lost power was not due to "excessive renewables," clarifying that there was adequate energy supply and normal demand leading up to the incident. He stated that ongoing investigations focus on preventing future occurrences.
The situation is further complicated by Spain’s interconnection with France. The vulnerability of this “electricity island,” which relies heavily on limited links through the Pyrenees, raises concerns, especially since a drop in power can trigger interconnection failures. Additionally, initial reports hinting at a rare atmospheric event causing electrical disturbances have been dismissed by Portugal’s grid operator, stressing the need for accurate information as the investigation unfolds.
As further data emerges, experts advocate for a thorough analysis to pinpoint the cause and bolster the robustness of the energy grid, considering the challenges inherent in relying on renewable energy sources, but emphasizing that systemic issues can arise across different energy types.
Experts suggest several factors could have contributed to the outage. Professor Hannah Christensen of the University of Oxford explained that electricity systems frequently experience failures, and a significant drop in supply could prompt large companies with high energy demands to temporarily disconnect to prevent equipment damage. Such quick disconnections, if numerous, could initiate a cascading effect leading to a full blackout.
Prime Minister Sánchez asserted that the lost power was not due to "excessive renewables," clarifying that there was adequate energy supply and normal demand leading up to the incident. He stated that ongoing investigations focus on preventing future occurrences.
The situation is further complicated by Spain’s interconnection with France. The vulnerability of this “electricity island,” which relies heavily on limited links through the Pyrenees, raises concerns, especially since a drop in power can trigger interconnection failures. Additionally, initial reports hinting at a rare atmospheric event causing electrical disturbances have been dismissed by Portugal’s grid operator, stressing the need for accurate information as the investigation unfolds.
As further data emerges, experts advocate for a thorough analysis to pinpoint the cause and bolster the robustness of the energy grid, considering the challenges inherent in relying on renewable energy sources, but emphasizing that systemic issues can arise across different energy types.
