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A series of blackouts leaves millions without power in Europe and exposes weaknesses in the electricity grid in the face of the rapid advance of renewable energy
A big blackout struck Portugal, Spain, France and Belgium on Monday (28), leaving millions of people without power and causing disruptions to essential services. The cause of the collapse is still being investigated, but authorities are already pointing to a possible overload in the energy system due to the accelerated growth of renewable sources, especially in Spain.
Advancement of renewables: Overloaded systems
Spain, the country most affected by the blackout, was one of the nations that most expanded the use of wind and solar energy in its electricity grid last year.
According to experts interviewed by Poder360, the excess energy generated may have caused an overload in the transmission system.
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Renewable generation, because it is intermittent, produces large volumes of electricity at certain times. If this volume is not controlled, it can overload equipment and cause failures.
The founding partner of the Brazilian Infrastructure Center (CBIE), Adriano Pires, stated that the episode is “similar” to what occurred in Brazil in 2023, when a similar failure knocked out the energy supply in all states.
Parallels with Brazil
In August 2023, Brazil faced a nationwide blackout caused by failures in voltage control equipment at wind and solar power plants.
The conclusion was confirmed by the National System Operator (ONS), responsible for monitoring the Brazilian electricity grid. The agency also issued a warning in December 2024 indicating a risk of overload by renewable sources in 11 Brazilian states.
The Brazilian experience is seen as a warning. The country has been investing in strengthening its electricity grid. In 2023, the government held an auction for the concession of 4.471 km of transmission lines.
Of this total, 3.007 km are new sections, aiming to expand the capacity to transport the energy generated, especially in the Northeast, to consumer centers in the Southeast.
The total investment was R$21,7 billion and was ratified by Aneel (National Electric Energy Agency) in 2024. The expectation is to increase the conversion capacity in substations by up to 9.840 MW.
Extreme test in Spain
Spain had already been carrying out tests to operate its electricity system solely with renewable sources. On April 16, 2025, it managed to supply the entire country with 100% clean energy for a working day for the first time.
Despite the milestone, the blackout episode raises doubts about the system's ability to withstand production peaks without compromising stability.
Immediate impacts
The blackout had a direct impact on people's lives. In Madrid and Lisbon, subway services were interrupted. The mobile network was also affected, limiting communication to messaging apps.
Madrid Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida asked residents to avoid leaving their homes and keep the streets clear for emergency services.
"I urge all Madrid residents to keep their commutes to an absolute minimum and, if possible, stay where they are. We want to keep all roads clear.”, declared the mayor in a video posted on social media.
He said that, in addition to the traffic lights being turned off, highway tunnels had to be closed. To deal with the crisis, the city activated “status 2” of the Territorial Emergency Plan. The measure represents a high level of alert, with coordinated actions to restore services and ensure safety.
Three regions in a state of emergency
So far, three of Spain's 17 autonomous regions – Andalusia, Extremadura and Madrid – have declared a national state of emergency.
Electricity companies such as Portugal's REN and Spain's Red Eléctrica have confirmed the collapse and launched an emergency recovery plan. According to the companies, it could take six to ten hours for the power to be fully restored.
The situation in Europe reinforces the need to review safety protocols for the integration of renewable sources on a large scale. The balance between sustainability and system stability is once again proving to be an urgent challenge.
With information from Terra.
