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Granada Substation Identified as Starting Point of Iberian Blackout

Spain's energy minister confirms the April 28 outage began with sudden generation losses at three substations, as investigations into the cause intensify.

Much of Spain and Portugal ground to a halt on April 28
Employees stand inside a supermarket without lights in Burgos on April 28, 2025, during a massive power cut affecting the entire Iberian peninsula and the south of France. A “massive” power cut late on April 28, 2025, affected the whole of the Iberian peninsula and part of France, according to Portuguese electricity network operator REN. (Cesar Manso/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)
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Overview

  • The April 28 blackout left tens of millions across Spain and Portugal without power, disrupting critical infrastructure and daily life.
  • Energy Minister Sara Aagesen revealed the outage originated from generation losses at substations in Granada, Badajoz, and Seville.
  • Investigators have ruled out cyberattacks, supply-demand imbalances, and insufficient grid capacity as causes of the blackout.
  • A 2023 CNMC report had warned of overvoltage risks in Spain's grid, which experts now believe may have triggered safety disconnections.
  • The government has temporarily reduced renewable energy input as multiple investigations, including those by CNMC and ENTSO-E, continue to examine systemic vulnerabilities.