Background on the Situation
Last week, a significant power outage affected Spain and Portugal, leaving many people without electricity for an extended period. The Spanish Minister for the Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen, stated over the weekend that it would take “many days” to determine the cause of this major blackout.
RTE’s Statement on Renewable Energy
RTE, the manager of high-voltage electricity grid in France, clarified on Monday that they have no evidence suggesting that wind and solar energy production were the cause of the blackout affecting Spain and Portugal the previous week.
RTE mentioned that wind and solar energy contributed around 70% of Spain’s electricity production just before the blackout, which is significant. However, they emphasized that this distribution is not unprecedented, as it occurred in 2024 and 2025 as well.
“We do not have data indicating that renewables were the cause of the blackout,” RTE stated regarding renewable energy sources. “Ongoing investigations will need to analyze the extent to which this high proportion of renewable energy may have influenced the incident’s propagation.”
Debunking Misinformation
Following the blackout, some Spanish political parties have blamed renewable energy sources for the imbalance between electricity production and demand, as grid managers cannot control sunlight or wind.
However, RTE pointed out that in previous blackouts, issues originated from the transmission network rather than power generation plants.
RTE also noted that the investigation results may not be available for several days, as the European legislation mandates that the European Transmission Network of Electricity (ENTSO-E) conducts the research and analysis of the incident.
ENTSO-E’s Investigation Process
ENTSO-E announced the formation of a group of experts on May 1st, which will present its report no later than six months after the incident date, with intermediate analysis publication stages, established conclusions, and recommendations.
Spain and Portugal have three months to share their data, and RTE will also contribute relevant information from the French grid to determine the blackout’s causes.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the current stance of RTE regarding renewable energy’s role in the blackout?
RTE has stated that there is no evidence suggesting renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, are the cause of the blackout affecting Spain and Portugal.
- Why are some Spanish political parties blaming renewable energy?
Some Spanish political parties claim that the imbalance between electricity production and demand led to the blackout, attributing this issue to the inability of grid managers to control sunlight and wind.
- What is the role of ENTSO-E in investigating the blackout?
According to European legislation, ENTSO-E is responsible for conducting the research and analysis of the incident. A group of experts has been formed to present their findings within six months.
- How will the investigation process unfold?
The investigation will involve analyzing the extent to which the high proportion of renewable energy may have influenced the incident’s propagation. Spain and Portugal will share their data, while RTE will contribute relevant information from the French grid.
