On the morning of April 28, large parts of Spain, Portugal, and southern France went dark. A massive blackout left millions without power, halting trains mid-track, cutting mobile networks, and rattling the foundation of one of Europe’s most advanced energy grids.
In the days that followed, experts and media outlets scrambled to explain what had happened. Was it a cyberattack? Human error? A structural failure? More than two months later, official investigations are ongoing. Early statements by the Spanish government confirmed that although no single cause has emerged, it wasn’t a cyberattack.
While the exact cause remains under review, one thing the energy industry agrees on is clear: This can’t keep happening.
“A relentless cycle of evolution”
“Power systems are not only extremely complex, they are also in a relentless cycle of evolution—with new parts coming in and old ones going out—all while remaining stable and dependable 24/7,” says Richard Schomberg, special envoy for smart electrification at the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
