As life in Spain and Portugal stutters back to normal, the big questions are not just what went wrong but how to prevent such a full-scale power failure from happening again. It was not until 11:15 (09:15 GMT) on Tuesday, almost 23 hours after the system collapsed that Spain's electricity grid declared it was back to normal. The trains have started running again although some lines are suspended and most homes have got their power back. So how did it get back up and running and why did it take so long? For most of Monday, Spain was in chaos. The issue appears to relate to two separate connection problems in the south west within moments of each other and then a disconnection from the French network for almost an hour. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez highlighted the sudden loss of 15 gigawatts of electricity at 12:33 on Monday, when about 60% of Spain's power generation suddenly vanished. Eduardo Prieto, the director of operations for the grid Red Eléctrica, said the systems had been stable, until a loss of power generation in southwestern Spain. Only the Canary Islands, the Balearics and Ceuta and Melilla on the North African coast were unaffected. An increasing number of public figures are blaming a saturation of solar power and an over-reliance on renewable energy. Minutes before the outage, Spain was running on 60.64% solar photovoltaic generation, with 12% wind and 11.6% nuclear. However diversified and advanced Spain's energy mix is, the national power collapse at 12:35 on Monday required an enormous effort to get Spain back up and running. The initial focus was to get the northern and southern power generating regions working again, which grid operator Red Eléctrica said was key to "gradually re-energising the transmission grid as the generating units are connected". The risk lay in overloading the system by turning everything on at the same time and triggering another massive outage. So everything had to be carefully phased for what experts call a "black start" working out as a success. The initial focus was on hydro-electric plants, in particular pumped-storage plants with reservoirs full at this time of year and able to produce electricity fast from a standing start. Combined-cycle gas plants also played a significant part in repowering the grid, but four nuclear power reactors at Almaraz, Ascó and and Vandellós were automatically shut down by the outage, and three others were already offline anyway. Spain's neighbours France and Morocco also came to its aid. Morocco said 900MW of power had been transferred through two high-voltage lines that cross the Strait of Gibraltrar from Fardioua to Tarifa in southern Spain. French operator RTE said it had been "gradually transferring more electricity to the Spanish border" via its power lines supplying Catalonia in north-east Spain and the Basque country in the north-west. RTE said the Iberian network had been disconnected from 12:38 to 13:30 on Monday, when the 400kV line to Catalonia was restored. Within minutes, France had supplied 700MW and RTE said it was later able to increase that by up to 2,000 MW. Power was then eventually restored to Spain's electricity substations in the north, south and west of the peninsula. By 19:20 on Monday, the grid operator said more than a fifth of demand had been restored by way of Spain's own electricity generation and from France. Electricity provider Endesa said it had restored almost 3.5 million customers by 19:15 and had prioritised hospitals and other strategic infrastructure. Just over an hour later the head of Red Eléctrica boss Eduardo Prieto said about 9,200 MW of demand - about 35.1% - had been restored. That figure rose steadily to 61.35% by midnight on Monday and more than 99% by 07:00 on Tuesday. Spain is only now beginning to count the cost. The CEOE bosses' organisation has estimated a €1.6bn hit on the economy. And the political blame game has already begun. The conservative head of the Madrid community, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, said the government's response had been slow and ineffective, while the leader of her People's Party Alberto Núñez Feijóo complained of a "lamentable" image of Spain being sent around the world. Despite all the problems, Spaniards were praised by the government for rising to the occasion and showing solidarity. Hospitals had back-up diesel-operated generators so they were able to keep critical care going. Spain's Guardia Civil police force said it had rescued 13,000 passengers trapped on trains. Residents in the southern town of Villanueva de Córdoba came to the aid of passengers stranded on a Ouigo train. Local police in Barcelona returned to the old ways, regulating traffic in the Plaça España because the lights were out. Passengers on the Barcelona metro had to walk to safety using the torches on their mobile phones when their trains became stuck in tunnels. A conference centre in Girona was converted into a 180-bed shelter for people stranded by rail disruptions. Although flights across the country were affected, airports operator Aena kept going throughout the disruption with the aid of generators. Phone batteries ran down, TVs were on the blink and for many Spaniards their only lifeline to the outside world was from a car or battery-operated radio, as radio stations soldiered on through the blackout. In Madrid there has been an urgent call for blood donations ahead of the big public holiday weekend. Pedro Sánchez is determined that lessons will be learned and such a crisis will not happen again. But energy expert Carlos Cagigal told Spanish TV there was a risk that it might, because Spain's infrastructure was simply not in a position to cope with all the renewable energy being produced. The power grid operator warned earlier this year of the risks of excessive renewable energy while closing nuclear plants. But a clip of its president Beatriz Corredor has gone viral from 2021, in which she insisted that Spain had "one of the safest and most advanced" electrical systems in the world and there was no reason to worry.
How Spain powered back to life from unprecedented national blackout
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Spain Recovers from Major Blackout as Officials Assess Causes and Future Risks"
Bbc News
8.2
TruthLens AI Summary
Spain and Portugal are gradually returning to normalcy following an unprecedented national blackout that left the region in chaos for nearly a day. The blackout began on Monday, when Spain experienced a sudden loss of 15 gigawatts of electricity, which accounted for about 60% of the country's power generation. This failure stemmed from two simultaneous connection issues in southwestern Spain and a disconnection from the French network. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and officials pointed to an over-reliance on renewable energy, particularly solar power, which comprised over 60% of the energy mix at the time. The recovery efforts were complex, requiring careful coordination to prevent further outages. The grid operator, Red Eléctrica, focused on restoring power in northern and southern regions, utilizing hydroelectric and combined-cycle gas plants to gradually re-energize the grid without overwhelming it. By the evening of Monday, significant progress had been made, with over 35% of demand restored, and by early Tuesday, power was nearly fully restored across the country.
The blackout's economic impact is estimated at around €1.6 billion, and political ramifications are already surfacing, with opposition leaders criticizing the government's response as inadequate. Despite the chaos, the Spanish populace demonstrated resilience, with hospitals maintaining operations through backup generators and local citizens assisting stranded passengers. The Guardia Civil managed to rescue thousands of individuals trapped on trains, while community efforts provided shelter for those affected by transport disruptions. As Spain assesses the fallout from this crisis, calls for improvements in the energy infrastructure are growing. Experts have warned that the current system, particularly with its increasing reliance on renewable energy, may not be equipped to handle similar crises in the future. Prime Minister Sánchez has pledged to learn from this incident, emphasizing the need for a more robust and reliable energy framework to prevent a recurrence of such an event.
TruthLens AI Analysis
The article provides an in-depth look at the recent national blackout in Spain, examining the causes and the recovery process that followed. It raises important questions regarding the stability of Spain's electricity grid and the implications of heavy reliance on renewable energy sources.
Causes of the Blackout
The report highlights a series of technical failures that led to the blackout, notably issues in the southwestern region of Spain and a disconnection from the French electricity network. This context sets the stage for discussions about the fragility of the energy infrastructure, particularly in light of the significant loss of power generation.
Public Response and Perception
The reaction from public figures points towards a growing concern about the saturation of solar energy and an over-reliance on renewables. This shift in perception could be aimed at prompting a reevaluation of Spain's energy policies, suggesting that the reliance on renewable sources may need to be balanced with traditional energy generation to ensure stability.
Underlying Motives and Messaging
The article seems to convey a message about the need for greater scrutiny and reform in energy management. By emphasizing the chaos during the blackout and the delayed recovery, it may be pushing for policy changes or investments in infrastructure to prevent future outages. This can create a sense of urgency among policymakers and the public alike.
Manipulative Aspects
There is a subtle manipulation at play, particularly in framing the narrative around renewable energy. While it is important to address the challenges of energy transition, the article may unintentionally push an agenda that blames renewable sources without acknowledging their benefits in reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainability.
Credibility of the Information
The reliability of the information presented seems high, given the detailed account of events and the involvement of credible sources such as government officials and the grid operator. However, the framing of renewable energy as a potential culprit could skew public perception.
Impact on Society and Economy
Potential repercussions of this blackout include increased scrutiny on energy policies, a push for infrastructure investment, and possibly a shift in public sentiment towards traditional energy sources. This could lead to a more conservative approach to energy generation and affect the future of renewable projects.
Target Audience
The article appears to resonate with individuals concerned about energy stability and reliability, particularly those interested in environmental issues and energy policy. It may also appeal to those advocating for a balanced energy mix.
Market Implications
In terms of market impact, this news could influence energy stocks, particularly those involved in renewable energy and traditional energy sectors. Investors may react to perceived vulnerabilities in the energy grid, prompting fluctuations in stock prices.
Global Significance
While the blackout is a national issue, it underscores broader themes in energy management that resonate globally, especially amid discussions on climate change and energy transition.
Use of Artificial Intelligence
There is no clear indication that AI was used in the writing of this article. However, if AI tools were involved, they may have helped in structuring the narrative or providing data analysis but would not alter the fundamental messaging of the content.
In summary, this article serves as a critical examination of Spain's energy challenges while also reflecting on the implications of its energy policies. The focus on the blackout and its recovery process raises questions about reliability and the future direction of energy management in Spain.