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At 12:33 of April 28, the peninsular electrical system collapsed. Zero voltage. Zero electricity. In seconds, millions of people were left without supply. The light returned in hours, but opacity continues. Who failed? Why did the power plants that charged for maintaining stability acted when they needed them most? The official report details it with technicalities. The companies involved are covered by confidentiality. But the data reveals an awkward truth: when everything went out, many were not where they should.
They charge to stabilize. But nobody acts here. The issue is that the Spanish electricity market, certain conventional -nuclear, gas and coal – centrals receive additional payments for being available to stabilize tension when there are imbalances. The days of the blackout were several programs, but, According to the reportmany of them were indispensable by maintenance tasks, recharges or breakdowns, just when the system more needed them.
The system warning. On April 22 and 24, anomalous oscillations were already registered in tension. On the 28th, the situation worsened: two great oscillations – a fast and one slow – destabilized the network completely. From the Electric Red Documentthe epicenter was a photovoltaic plant in Badajoz, which oscillated without control. From there, the tension collapsed in a waterfall. Some plants tried to coupled, but they did not arrive on time. The system fell in 30 seconds.
In the most structural part. Each great electric has its own support strategy: Endesa is committed to nuclear, Naturgy for gas, Iberdrola for hydraulics. But all share something in common: the centrals that give stability to the system are in the hands of the same actors that dominate the traditional electricity market. The worrying thing is not that they charge to be available to act, but that, when they do not, there is no clear consequences. The official report Recognize that information It was confidential, voluntary access and that most companies did not allow disseminating their data. No responsible, without sanctions, without reform.
Everyone is blamed, nobody responds. What has followed is a reproach chain: the government blames Red Eléctrica; Electric network blames electric; The electricity blames the Government and Red Eléctrica. And meanwhile, citizens still do not know which company failed to comply with one of the most critical moments for the electrical system.
A pattern that is repeated. As has pointed out Eloy Sanz, the professor and researcher at the Rey Juan Carlos University, in their social networks the great electricity maximize benefits according to their technological convenience. Renewables, which should lead the transition, are subordinated or used as alibi. The result: a vulnerable system, without accountability.
An inevitable conclusion. The report proposes some technical measures and recommendations to the National Security Council. But it does not demand sanctions or identify responsible. There is also no clear measure to force companies to make their failures public. There is not even a reform of confidentiality mechanisms.
One thing is clear: the 28th was not just an electric blackout. It was also a responsibility blackout.
Image | Pxhere
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