A delicate balance: problems of massive transition to renewable energy sources

Around the world, countries are rapidly switching to renewable energy sources (RES), but this movement is often faster than infrastructure is being updated.

As a result, the systems cannot withstand the load. An eloquent illustration of this is the example of Spain, which experienced two large-scale blackouts on April 28 and May 20, 2025, which disrupted the power system of the entire Iberian Peninsula.

Among the reasons were weather fluctuations, the possibility of a hacker attack on dispatch centers, and planned sabotage at energy facilities.

However, the truth turned out to be banal, but bitter: the system simply could not cope with the new challenges.

Vulnerable network: what the Spanish case showed

In Spain, where solar and wind power accounted for more than 70% of generation on blackout days, the system failed to maintain stability. When one of the facilities shut down due to voltage fluctuations, the others began to shut down automatically.

Frequency spikes, lack of synchronization, and insufficient cross-system integration with other EU countries have created a domino effect. The country has actually become an energy island without sufficient reserves to maintain the balance.