Overview

• Spain's April 28 blackout, affecting 60% of electricity demand, is attributed to cascading failures likely initiated by sudden solar photovoltaic shutdowns.
• Grid operator Red Eléctrica has ruled out cyberattacks as a cause, focusing investigations on technical triggers in the renewable-heavy energy system.
• Spain and Portugal's limited cross-border grid connections make the Iberian Peninsula particularly susceptible to large-scale outages when generation fails.
• Germany, undergoing a similar renewable energy transition, asserts its grid stability, though experts acknowledge risks tied to baseload plant closures and renewable integration.
• A Verivox survey reveals 73% of Germans are unprepared for power outages, with mixed confidence in authorities' readiness to handle such events.