MADRID, March 20 (Xinhua) -- A final report on the April 28, 2025 blackout, which left most of Spain and parts of Portugal without electricity for around 10 hours, has identified systemic weaknesses in the power system, but stopped short of assigning responsibility.
According to the report, released Thursday by Spain's National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC), while regulatory and safety mechanisms were in place at the time, shortcomings were identified in system operations, real-time monitoring, and coordination among grid operators, particularly in responding to voltage fluctuations.
The CNMC called for reforms to strengthen the resilience of the Iberian electricity system, including improved regulatory coordination at both national and European levels, stricter infrastructure inspections, and wider safety margins.
It also emphasized the need to adapt the grid to a rapidly evolving energy mix, marked by a growing share of renewable sources, increased operational complexity, and greater volatility.
The report, issued one day earlier than scheduled, further highlighted the strong interdependence between the power system and other critical sectors. Disruptions to telecommunications during the blackout, for example, hampered efforts to restore electricity supply.
Sectors such as railways, metro systems, and telecommunications were identified as particularly vulnerable, with the CNMC recommending measures to improve their resilience in future outages.
