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Spain's electricity operator addresses blackout concerns linked to renewable energy
The head of Spain's electricity operator has recently sought to alleviate fears stemming from a report warning of substantial risks of power outages associated with the country's increased reliance on renewable energy sources.
On a recent Monday, Spain and Portugal experienced one of the most significant power outages in European history, which disrupted telecommunications, halted public transport, and plunged urban areas into darkness. As of now, no definitive cause for this widespread blackout has been determined.
Redeia, the parent company of Red Eléctrica de España (REE), released its annual financial report for 2024 in February. This document cautioned that "the high penetration of renewable generation without the necessary technical capacity to deal adequately with disturbances" could potentially lead to production cuts in Spain. The report emphasized that such blackouts "could become severe," creating an imbalance between production and demand, thereby significantly impacting electricity supply.
In an interview with news radio Cadena Ser, Redeia president Beatriz Corredor refuted claims that the recent blackout was directly linked to the high usage of renewable energy. She asserted, "Renewable energy production is safe," and stated that associating the serious incident with renewable energy penetration is "not true" and "not correct."
Corredor clarified that the extensive 380-page financial report merely outlined a series of potential risks as mandated by law. She noted, "Renewable energies work in a stable way; they already have mechanisms that allow them to operate practically like conventional technologies."
The report also highlighted the potential consequences of reducing traditional power generation from gas and coal plants, warning that this could lead to challenges in system operations, increased production limitations, and potential impacts on supply. Additionally, it mentioned the "risk of an attack or incident affecting IT systems," which could also disrupt electricity supply and result in financial and reputational damage for Redeia.
Spain's top criminal court is currently investigating whether the blackout may have been an act of computer sabotage, although REE has dismissed the possibility of a cyberattack.
