THE SPANISH ELECTRY RED (REE) He has ruled out A cyber attack as the origin of the blackout that affected the country yesterday. The preliminary cause is pointing to a massive disconnection of renewable energy, especially in the peninsular southwest. This vulnerability of the system, According to RBC Capital Markets in statements to Reutersit is because “the Spanish system depends strongly on solar energy, but lacks storage and a robust backup network.”
Isolated from Europe. The European Union has one of the networks more interconnected in the worldallowing countries to import or export electricity in moments of shortage. In fact, just a few days ago, Spain before the renewable boom had to export energy to Portugal and France. However, this timely case does not hide a structural underlying problem: the entire peninsula It is still an energy island.
Other places where it does work. Denmark has more than 80% of its electricity from wind energy, so the question arises from why it does not suffer blackouts. The answer is in the interconnection, since in case of fall it can import from Germany, Sweden or Norway almost immediately.
The Nordic model. Being part of the Nordic electric market or Nord Pool has adopted A flow -based market coupling model to improve network efficiency and facilitate the integration of renewable energy. This system has optimized the flow of energy in the Nordic and Europe a flexibility which allows you to maintain the stability of your electricity network even with a high proportion of renewable energies.
The door: France. Spain Only exchange 2.8% of its capacity with France, well below of 15% target established by the European Union for 2030. One of the projects that is in development to improve this situation is underwater interconnection by the Gulf of Bizkaia, which will connect Gatika (Spain) with Cubnezais (France). Managed by INELFE will increase the exchange capacity up to 5,000 MW and is expected to enter into operation in 2028.
However, the progress of interconnections has faced obstacles. France has shown reluctance to increase electrical connections with Spain beyond the submarine cable of Biscay, which has generated diplomatic tensions and has slowed the process, According to EFE. Besides, You are using Its nuclear network as a strategic tool to maintain under the level of interconnection of Spain, consolidating its role as dominant node in the European electric flow. In this way, France is allowing its nuclear to “monopolize” part of the export system to central Europe.
Facing the future. The blackout highlighted the need to reinforce electrical infrastructure to guarantee system stability, such as Expand the interconnections With other countries such as underwater cable with Italy, maintain plants such as hydroelectric or thermal, and invest in storage technologies, such as Large -scale batteriesthat They replicate the inertia of traditional systems.
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