Power Plants Failed to Regulate Voltage Despite Legal and Financial Obligations, Energy Minister Says
MADRID, June 17 — Spain’s massive April blackout, which left large parts of the Iberian Peninsula without power, was triggered by a lack of dynamic voltage control in the national grid, according to findings released Tuesday by Energy Minister Sara Aagesen.
Speaking at a news briefing in Madrid, Aagesen said the power system failed to maintain proper voltage levels, setting off a chain reaction that plunged both Spain and Portugal into darkness for several hours on April 28. “The system did not have sufficient dynamic voltage control capacity,” she said.
According to an extensive government report set to be published later today, several power plants legally obligated—and financially compensated—to help stabilize grid voltage failed to do so in the critical moments before the blackout. “They did not absorb all the reactive power that was expected in a context of high voltages,” Aagesen added.
The outage brought cities to a standstill, trapping thousands in elevators, halting trains, and causing massive traffic gridlock across urban centers.
The investigation ruled out any cyberattack or external interference. The failure, officials concluded, was entirely systemic—caused by inadequate technical response from within the grid infrastructure.
The Spanish government is expected to announce further measures to strengthen voltage control requirements and enforcement mechanisms in the coming days.
