Urgent EU Warning: Prepare Your 72-Hour Survival Kit for Potential Blackout in Portugal and Spain

On April 28, Portugal and Spain experienced a massive blackout that left 50 million people across the Iberian Peninsula and parts of southern France without electricity. In just minutes, trains, elevators, and communications systems ground to a halt.

This event triggered alarms in Brussels, prompting the activation of the EU's resilience strategy: a 72-hour emergency kit designed to help citizens survive without external aid. Essential items recommended by the European Union include:

• Drinking water: Store at least 5 liters per person.
• Non-perishable foods: Canned goods, dried fruits, biscuits, or items that don't require cooking.
• Battery-powered radio: Crucial for staying informed during prolonged outages.
• Candles and flashlight
• Portable chargers and batteries
• Cash: ATMs may not function.
• Warm clothes, blankets, and sleeping bags: Vital for cold weather to prevent hypothermia.
• First aid kit: Include bandages, pain relievers, and emergency supplies.
• Essential medication: Keep a sufficient stock on hand.

New Alert in the Electrical System

Six months later, the alarm has sounded again. Red Eléctrica (Spain's grid operator), a subsidiary of Redeia, reported to the National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) that it detected "sudden voltage variations in the peninsula's electrical grid over the past two weeks." These fluctuations could jeopardize supply security if proposed adjustments aren't applied.

The operator links these issues to abrupt changes in renewable energy generation and the response times of facilities managing dynamic voltage control. Although voltages remain within allowed limits, they could cause consumption or generation disconnections that destabilize the system, as warned in Red Eléctrica's document to the regulator.

Red Eléctrica has requested urgent technical changes and temporary approval of operational procedures related to scheduling, technical constraints, secondary regulation, and voltage control. These modifications would last initially for 30 days, extendable by another 15. The CNMC has opened a public consultation period until October 15 to gather input from affected parties.

Are We Prepared for Another Blackout?

Red Eléctrica explains that recent system evolution has introduced new dynamics due to the growth of installations connected via power electronics, including large-scale and self-consumption units. These can alter their power output in seconds and are often invisible to system managers, making it hard to predict their behavior.

The Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge has urged Red Eléctrica and the CNMC to adopt necessary measures to ensure supply security.

Citizens are left wondering: Could the April scenario repeat itself? Red Eléctrica warns of the risk and stresses the urgency of implementing changes to strengthen the stability of Spain's electrical system.