Massive Blackout Hits Parts of Europe, Raising Concerns

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Massive Blackout in Spain and Portugal: 4 Million Affected, Experts Warn of Europe’s Energy Shift Risks

By TRH News Desk

New Delhi, April 28, 2025: A widespread power outage struck large parts of Spain and Portugal on Monday. Millions of people were affected with the blackout. Geopolitical experts weighed possibilities of Europe’s risks in shift from fossil fuels.

The blackout began early Monday morning. It left homes, businesses, and public services in darkness. Some areas faced outages lasting over six hours.

This incident comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions in Europe, prompting experts to warn of vulnerabilities in the region’s energy infrastructure and the broader implications for security and stability.

The outage impacted major cities, including Madrid, Lisbon, and Barcelona, with an estimated 4 million people affected, according to local authorities. The Spanish grid operator, Red Eléctrica, attributed the blackout to a “critical failure” at a key substation, exacerbated by a surge in demand during an unseasonably warm spring.

Portugal’s REN reported similar issues, noting that the interconnected nature of the Iberian Peninsula’s grid amplified the cascading failure. Emergency services were deployed to manage traffic chaos and assist hospitals, which relied on backup generators.

The blackout occurs against a backdrop of growing concerns over Europe’s energy security, particularly following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and ongoing attacks on energy infrastructure. Euronews reported on March 27, 2025, that the EU is increasingly focused on protecting its power grid from hostile attacks, with officials citing the need for massive investments to modernize aging infrastructure.

The timing of this outage has fueled speculation about potential sabotage, though no evidence has been confirmed.

On X, geopolitical experts weighed in on the incident, highlighting its broader implications. Dr. Elena Petrova, a noted energy security analyst, in a post on X emphasized the region’s vulnerability, stating, “Europe’s energy grid is a soft target. With Russia targeting Ukraine’s infrastructure — 73% of thermal power facilities are inoperative as of mid-2024 — this blackout in Spain and Portugal underscores the urgent need for resilience.”

Velina Tchakarova, a well-known geopolitical commentator, said in a post on X that the blackout also affected parts of France. “We are currently dealing with the greatest geopolitical oscillations by a number of middle powers that navigate in a highly bifurcating Global System,” she noted.

Tchakarova further wondered, “who would have thought that we would be facing ‘oscillations in the power flows in the grid’ as well. Reality is brutal.”

TRENDS Research & Advisory noted that the Russia-Ukraine conflict has intensified energy security challenges across Eastern Europe, forcing nations to adapt rapidly.

Geopolitical strategist Mark Hensley, in a post on X warned, “This outage could be a wake-up call. The EU’s push for electrification to reduce fossil fuel dependency is critical, but it must address external threats. Geopolitical rivals like Russia or even non-state actors could exploit these weaknesses.”

The European Union Institute for Security Studies’ in a January 2025 report had highlighted that “Russia as a real, direct, and long-term threat to European security, particularly in the energy sector”.

Economic analyst Sofia Marquez in a post on X pointed to the economic ramifications, noting, “Energy disruptions like today’s blackout in Spain and Portugal could deepen Europe’s economic malaise. With trade tensions and a more isolationist US under Trump, the EU risks being the biggest loser among global economies.”

Eurasia Group’s Top Risks 2025 report had recently cautioned that Europe is ill-equipped to handle zero-sum power politics, especially as energy imports remain a vulnerability.

The European Commission issued a statement urging member states to accelerate grid modernization and enhance cybersecurity measures. “This incident underscores the urgency of our energy transition, but we must do so while safeguarding against external threats,” an EU spokesperson said.

A 2024 report by the European Nuclear Society highlighted that Europe lags behind in nuclear research and supply chain capabilities, contributing to delays and cost overruns in energy projects. Meanwhile, the EU’s push for renewables, while successful in reducing reliance on Russian gas, has strained grids unprepared for fluctuating demand, as noted in a Brookings discussion on April 19, 2025.

As power is gradually restored across the Iberian Peninsula, the incident has sparked a broader conversation about Europe’s preparedness for energy crises in a geopolitically volatile world. Experts advocated that the EU must prioritize resilience, diversify energy sources, and strengthen defences against potential sabotage.