Table of Contents
- The Darkness that Struck Europe in 2025: The Great Blackout in Spain and Portugal
- Causes of the Iberian Peninsula Blackout: What Stopped the System?
- Social Paralysis: Daily Life Halted from Subways to Airports
- Essential Checklist for Travelers: Preparations and Precautions for Blackouts
- Lessons Learned and Future Challenges from the Blackout
The Darkness that Struck Europe in 2025: The Great Blackout in Spain and Portugal
On April 28, 2025, all of Spain and Portugal were engulfed in unprecedented darkness. This large-scale blackout is recorded as the most severe power grid failure in modern European history, directly impacting approximately 60 million citizens.
Due to this, essential social systems such as transportation, communication, finance, and healthcare were paralyzed, leading to massive socio-economic chaos. This caused significant anxiety for those traveling in or planning to visit the region.
The incident came as a shock not only to local residents but also to international tourists.
This article delves into the causes of the 2025 blackout in Spain and Portugal. It will explain the various impacts caused by this incident, particularly focusing on the subway and airport usage precautions that travelers should be aware of. This information will be of great help in preparing for your trip.
Causes of the Iberian Peninsula Blackout: What Stopped the System?
While the exact cause has yet to be determined, initial analyses indicate that multiple factors were involved. At 12:33 PM (CEST) on April 28, 2025, an abrupt drop of about 15 GW in generation occurred in the Spanish power system within just 5 seconds. This massive reduction represented approximately 60% of Spain's total power demand, causing the Iberian Peninsula's power grid to automatically disconnect from the European continental interconnected grid. Eventually, this led to a serious collapse of the entire system, highlighting the need to reassess the stability of the power system.
The most prominent cause currently under scrutiny is the massive loss of generation capacity in southwestern Spain. The sequential shutdown of solar power plants is cited as a major factor. Just before the blackout, the share of renewable energy in the Iberian Peninsula was quite high (about 60-78%), which reduced the system's physical stability, namely its inertia. When inertia is lowered, rapid changes in generation or faults can cause severe frequency fluctuations, making the system highly vulnerable in such situations.
Given the limited interconnection capacity with France, it is highly likely that the inability to receive external emergency support accelerated the system's collapse. This has been analyzed as a structural vulnerability arising from problems with certain generation sources, a high proportion of renewable energy, and inadequate interconnection networks between countries. Consequently, these factors seem to have combined to lead to an unprecedented blackout.
Initially, hypotheses regarding cyberattacks or specific weather phenomena were raised, but currently, the likelihood of these remains low. Such analyses will serve as important reference materials to secure the future stability of the power system.
Social Paralysis: Daily Life Halted from Subways to Airports
The recent blackout incident in Spain and Portugal has had serious consequences that went beyond mere inconvenience, paralyzing various functions of society.
In particular, the transportation system suffered significant damage. Both Spain's Renfe and Portugal's CP state railways came to a complete halt, and high-speed trains such as the AVE, as well as subways in major cities like Madrid, Lisbon, and Barcelona, ceased operations. As a result, around 35,000 passengers were trapped in trains within Spain, leading to chaotic situations.
Traffic lights were out, causing severe traffic congestion and resulting in perilous situations. Additionally, gas stations halted operations, exacerbating citizens' inconveniences. This series of incidents had a large impact on overall social functions, indicating an urgent need for future countermeasures.
Airports also faced significant operational issues. Major airports like Madrid Barajas, Barcelona El Prat, and Lisbon operated on emergency generators and in a limited capacity, resulting in many flight delays or cancellations. Terminals were either closed or overcrowded.
Moreover, the communication system was disrupted, causing mobile voice calls to be difficult or severely restricted, and internet traffic dropped by 50-90% compared to normal levels. These problems led to great inconvenience for many people.
Hospitals activated emergency generators to maintain essential functions, but some non-emergency surgeries and consultations were postponed. Unfortunately, at least five individuals lost their lives due to issues with oxygen supply devices.
Additionally, with the financial system paralyzed, using ATMs and card payments became impossible, severely impacting economic activities. This situation had serious repercussions across various sectors.
Essential Checklist for Travelers: Preparations and Precautions for Blackouts
The 2025 blackout in Spain and Portugal reminds us of the need to prepare for emergencies while traveling. If you are visiting or staying in Spain or Portugal, it is essential to be aware of and prepare for the following points.
First,
it is very important to check real-time traffic information. If a blackout occurs, the status of subways, trains, and flights can change rapidly, so it’s crucial to periodically verify the latest information through related apps or websites, as well as announcements at airports and train stations.
Second, it is necessary to prepare an emergency contact list in advance. Saving contact information for local embassies or consulates, accommodations, airlines, and travel agencies beforehand, and having a way to inform family or friends of your location and situation is crucial.
Third, it is essential to carry a power bank and cash. Having a smartphone is crucial for gathering information and communication; therefore, preparing sufficient power banks is necessary. Additionally, it is advisable to carry small amounts of cash in case card payments or ATM usage becomes difficult.
Fourth, when choosing accommodations, check whether they have emergency power facilities or inquire in advance about how they deal with power outages. These preparations can reduce anxiety during your travels.
When purchasing travel insurance, it is vital to thoroughly check coverage for flight delays or additional accommodation costs due to emergencies like blackouts.
The most important point is to stay calm and maintain composure, considering safety as a top priority and following the guidance of official authorities.
Lessons Learned and Future Challenges from the Blackout
The large-scale blackout that occurred in Spain and Portugal in 2025 reaffirmed the importance of stable power supply in modern society.
It particularly demonstrated how vital it is to maintain the stability of the power grid during the energy transition process, where the proportion of renewable energy is increasing. The issues exposed by this event, such as low system inertia and inadequate interconnection capacity between countries, highlight the urgent need for investments in modernizing power grids not only in the Iberian Peninsula but also across Europe and worldwide.
This event presents technical challenges to strengthen future power systems, emphasizing the need for proactive responses to these challenges. A stable power supply is the foundation of all economic activities, which necessitates continued efforts towards achieving it.
This incident offers important lessons for governments, power companies, and civil society alike. To solve this, it is essential to expand energy storage systems (ESS), introduce smart grid technologies, and strengthen interconnections between countries through both technical and policy efforts.
Moreover, individuals need to be aware of the possibility of such large-scale disasters and equip themselves with the ability to prepare for emergencies.
The blackout incident in 2025 in Spain and Portugal reminds us that it is not merely a coincidence but a call for deep reflection and preparation for the stability and sustainability of future energy systems. We must leverage these lessons to devise better countermeasures.
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