Blackout in Spain and Portugal remains a mystery; experts say green tech not to blame

Spain and Portugal experienced one of the most significant blackouts in European history this week, affecting an estimated 55 million people and lasting over 12 hours.

While both countries lead Europe in the integration of renewable energy—particularly wind and solar—officials and experts in both countries have dismissed claims that the recent power outage was caused by these technologies.

Initial reports hinted at a “rare atmospheric phenomenon” potentially impacting the overhead power lines, though weather conditions in Spain were reportedly normal at the time, according to The Guardian.

However, Portugal’s electricity provider, Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN), initially attributed the massive blackout to a “rare atmospheric phenomenon,” citing severe internal temperature imbalances in Spain that triggered widespread disruptions. REN said, these fluctuations led to abnormal oscillations in high-voltage transmission lines (400 kV)—a phenomenon known as “induced atmospheric vibration.”

Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro supported this view, stating that the issue appeared to originate in Spain. However, Spain’s national meteorological agency, Aemet, cast doubt on this theory in a statement issued on Tuesday. Aemet reported no unusual weather activity or abrupt temperature changes on April 28, according to its network of meteorological stations.
The Spanish government acknowledged that the exact cause of the outage remains unknown and urged the public to avoid premature conclusions.

Dr. Kang Li, Chair of Smart Energy Systems at the University of Leeds, suggested to Al Jazeera that a combination of factors was likely responsible. “It usually takes several months to fully analyze forensic grid data,” he noted, adding that a preliminary report could be released in a few weeks.