Spain Investigates Massive Power Outage Affecting Millions

High-ranking officials in Spain, including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, are investigating the recent blackout that impacted millions, exploring various factors including renewable energy reliance and potential cyber threats.

Spain's top defense and security officials convened on Wednesday to address the recent widespread blackout affecting the Iberian Peninsula, a crisis that left tens of millions stranded and disrupted critical infrastructure for nearly 18 hours. In response, the Spanish government is under pressure to uncover the factors that led to the power outage and is working alongside European regulators and domestic agencies to facilitate the investigation.

The National Security Council met in Madrid early Wednesday, with key attendees including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, the head of the Defense Staff, and directors from various intelligence and security organizations. Concurrently, a meeting of Spain's Council of Ministers focused on the implications of the blackout that commenced Monday afternoon and persisted until early Tuesday when power was restored.

This incident has led to discussions about the potential vulnerabilities of the national grid, particularly regarding the recent shift by Spain’s national grid operator, Red Eléctrica, towards renewable energy sources. Critics are questioning whether this transition has made the grid less resilient to failures. Prime Minister Sánchez announced the establishment of a commission headed by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition to conduct a thorough investigation into the outage.

Investigators are also exploring other possibilities for the blackout's cause. Red Eléctrica has reported no evidence suggesting a cyberattack on the transmission grid, yet a court has mandated investigations—within 10 days—by Red Eléctrica, intelligence services, and police to consider this angle. Sánchez indicated that the National Cryptologic Center, part of the National Intelligence Center responsible for addressing cyber threats, is currently assessing risks associated with this electrical emergency.

After the restoration of power, the Interior Ministry deactivated most of the emergency measures implemented during the blackout, scaling down several regions from a high to a medium alert level, which allows enhanced national support for local governments. However, areas like Madrid and Extremadura maintain the highest alert status due to ongoing concerns and lack of requests for downgrade. As investigations continue, Spanish authorities remain committed to ensuring a secure and resilient power infrastructure for the future.