New Report Dispels Renewable Myths Behind Massive European Blackout
A new report from European grid operators has shed light on the massive power outage that affected tens of millions of people across Spain, Portugal, and parts of France last spring. The outage, which lasted for over ten hours in some cases, was caused by a voltage surge, contrary to popular misconceptions.
The report contradicts claims that an overreliance on renewables was the cause of the blackout. Spain generates about 46% of its power from solar and wind, sometimes exceeding 70%. The outage was triggered by extraordinary voltage fluctuations, initiated by a stepwise failure of multiple power plants, especially in southern Spain. Shortly after 12:32:57 PM, these voltage rises exceeded permissible levels, leading to a cascade of further shutdowns that destabilized the system.
A majority of Spanish respondents believe at least one false narrative about the blackout, with the most common being that too much reliance on renewable energy was to blame. However, pairing solar and wind energy with large batteries or other forms of grid management proves renewable energy to be reliable. Countries around the world are using renewable energy to move away from polluting fossil fuels.
The report from European grid operators clarifies the cause of the massive power outage last spring. Despite false narratives, renewable energy remains a reliable source of power. As countries continue to transition away from fossil fuels, understanding and managing grid stability will be crucial.
