Mega blackout threatens Europe: Experts warn of dangerous network problem!

Mega blackout threatens Europe: Experts warn of dangerous network problem!

On April 30, 2025, there was a dramatic mega blackout that affected Spain, Portugal and parts of France. According to Oe24 , the Red Eléctrica was responsible for the sudden interruption of the power connection with France. However, the exact reason for decoupling remains unclear what makes the Situation more worrying.

US expert Michael Shellenberger suspected that the collapse of the Spanish power grid was due to an abundance of wind and solar energy. This contradicts common media reports that suggest another cause. Shellenberger emphasizes that a lack of "inertia" on the net, caused by the excess of solar energy, contributed to the collapse. An effective power grid requires this "inertia" through large turbines in power plants that cannot provide wind turbines and solar cells.

The effects of blackout

The critical network frequency meant that Spain was only "seconds away from a power failure across the continent". According to the Spanish government, it was a historical event in which millions were for hours without electricity and connections. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez commented on the situation with the words: "We have never experienced something like this", and announced that we are accountable for private suppliers and initiate improvements in the care system.

In the discussion about the stability of power nets, the focus has shifted to the influence of renewable energies. An investigation by scientists from Trinity College Dublin and the University of Tennessee shows that the use of wind and solar power in the USA also has an impact on network stability. This research, published in the Nature Energy magazine, found that in states with a high proportion of renewable energies, average many blackouts occurred.

renewable energies and network stability

In Germany, renewable energies, especially wind and solar power, cover more than half of the electricity consumption. However, critics warn that the fluctuating feed -in can overload the power grids, especially in extreme weather events. According to Leonhard Birnbaum, the CEO of E.ON, there are concerns about the insufficient capacity for renewable energies.

The study has also shown that the likelihood of weather -related power outages drops over a share of over 50 percent renewable energies and that the black failures in more renewable nettings are generally less serious and shorter. Nevertheless, the challenge remains, since the fluctuating production through renewable energies often requires complex control systems to minimize the risk of failures.

The current events in Spain and the study results illustrate the need to further develop and optimize the infrastructure for renewable energies in order to ensure the stability of the power grids in the future. The discussion about how to manage the transition to more sustainable energy sources is becoming increasingly urgent in the face of such incidents.