The blackout also impacted neighboring regions, including parts of southern France and Andorra. Photographs from the event depict eerily empty train stations, darkened cityscapes, and citizens navigating streets without traffic signals.
Customers are faced with powerless food stands during a nationwide power outage on April 28, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. There was a widespread power outage today in Spain and Portugal and parts of France. Sandra Montanez/Getty Images
Entrance of metro is blocked as a widespread power outage strikes Spain and Portugal around midday Monday while the causes are still unknown in Madrid, Spain on April 28, 2025. Diego Radames/Anadolu via Getty ImagesA man and a child walk through a local market during a massive power cut in Vigo, northwestern Spain, on April 28, 2025. A massive power cut affects the whole of the Iberian Peninsula and part of France on April 28, 2025, according to Portuguese electricity network operator REN. MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP
Investigating the Causes: What Went Wrong?
The exact cause of the blackout remains under investigation. However, preliminary reports suggest that a rare atmospheric phenomenon led to significant oscillations in the power grid. These fluctuations caused a sudden loss of synchronization between Spain’s grid and the broader European network, resulting in a rapid drop of 15 gigawatts—about 60% of Spain’s electricity demand—in just five seconds.
Additionally, the increasing integration of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, into the grid may have contributed to the instability. While these sources are essential for sustainable energy, their intermittent nature can pose challenges for grid management, especially during unexpected demand surges or supply drops.
People outside Barcelona Sant rail station during a massive power cut affecting the entire Iberian peninsula and the south of France, in Barcelona, Spain on April 28, 2025. Adria Puig/Anadolu via Getty Images
Could a Similar Blackout Occur in the United States?
While the U.S. power grid differs in structure and management from Europe’s, it is not immune to large-scale outages. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has warned that much of the U.S. faces an elevated risk of blackouts during extreme weather conditions. Factors such as aging infrastructure, increasing electricity demand, and the challenges of integrating renewable energy sources contribute to this vulnerability.
Passengers stand next to a stopped RENFE high-speed AVE train near Cordoba on April 28, 2025, during a massive power cut affecting the entire Iberian peninsula and the south of France. A «massive» power cut late on April 28, 2025 morning affected the whole of the Iberian peninsula and part of France, according to Portuguese electricity network operator REN. JAVIER SORIANO / AFP
However, the U.S. grid’s decentralized nature and regional interconnections can both mitigate and exacerbate risks. While decentralization can prevent a single point of failure, it can also lead to coordination challenges during widespread disturbances. Investments in grid modernization, energy storage, and advanced forecasting are crucial to enhancing resilience.
Fans walk through the dark gangways during a general power blackout during Day Seven of the Mutua Madrid Open at La Caja Magica on April 28, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. A widespread power outage hit Spain, Portugal and parts of France. Julian Finney/Getty Images
Spain’s recent blackout serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and vulnerabilities inherent in modern power grids. As the U.S. continues to evolve its energy landscape, balancing the integration of renewable sources with grid stability will be paramount. Proactive measures, infrastructure investments, and robust contingency planning are essential to prevent similar large-scale outages on American soil.
People wait outside the Atocha train station in Madrid after its closure as a massive power outage hits Spain on April 28, 2025. Power went out across all of Spain and Portugal today, cutting cellphone and internet networks, halting trains and trapping people in elevators, officials said. The operator, Red Electrica, said it would likely take six to 10 hours to restore power in the country and urged people not to speculate as to the cause of the outage. Thomas COEX / AFP
Investigating the Cyberattack Possibility
While initial reports from Portuguese grid operator REN attributed the April 2025 blackout in Spain and Portugal to a rare atmospheric phenomenon, Spanish authorities have not ruled out other causes.
People go to stores to buy essential items as a widespread power outage strikes Spain and Portugal around midday in Barcelona, Spain on April 28, 2025. Amid a massive blackout, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday announced a state of emergency in the regions of Madrid, Andalusia, and Extremadura. Many areas in Spain have endured nearly nine hours without power. David Melero Pena/Anadolu via Getty Images
Spain’s cybersecurity agency, INCIBE, is actively investigating the incident to determine if a cyberattack could have played a role. Although no concrete evidence has emerged linking the blackout to malicious cyber activities, the complexity and scale of the outage have prompted a thorough examination of all potential factors. This includes assessing the robustness of the grid’s cybersecurity measures and exploring whether any vulnerabilities may have been exploited.
A view shows a dark pharmacy store during a widespread power outage that struck Spain and Portugal around midday on Monday, with the cause still unknown in Lisbon, Portugal on April 28, 2025. Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images
The outcome of these investigations will be crucial in understanding the true cause of the blackout and in implementing safeguards against future incidents.
