On April 28, more than 60 million people across Spain and Portugal were plunged into darkness after a massive electrical blackout crippled both countries for nearly 10 hours. The cause? Still unknown. But what’s clear is that the crisis occurred while 78% of the Iberian Peninsula’s power was being supplied by renewable energy, mostly solar.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez ruled out an “excess of renewables” as the cause, while confirming that Spain’s cybersecurity authorities are investigating the possibility of a cyberattack. Spain’s top criminal court has even launched a probe into a potential act of computer sabotage targeting critical infrastructure.
The Vulnerability of Green Grids
This wasn’t a typical blackout. It was a cold-start scenario — a full shutdown requiring a complete system reboot. That’s the nightmare energy experts warn about, especially when a power grid relies heavily on intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind.
A study by Spain’s Universidad de Salamanca made it clear: renewables alone can’t stabilize grid frequency during sudden shifts in demand or generation. Unlike hydroelectric dams or nuclear power, solar doesn’t provide the consistent “baseload” stability needed to manage rapid changes.
The result? Trains stopped. Traffic lights died. Flights were canceled. Shops shut down or reverted to cash-only. And tragically, three elderly people died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning while using backup generators.
Global Consequences, Canadian Implications
The blackout happened at the same time Canada elected one of the world’s most prominent net-zero advocates: Mark Carney. Though Carney downplayed green issues during the election, he’s long been one of the most vocal supporters of rapid decarbonization and electrification.
As former CEO of Brookfield Asset Management, Carney was directly involved in acquiring Spanish renewable firm Saeta Yield SA — one of many green energy assets now at the heart of Europe’s grid stability debate.
Critics like Alberta Premier Danielle Smith were quick to draw parallels. “Albertans would be left to freeze in the dark,” she warned, if Canada follows the same path without ensuring energy grid resilience.
Canada’s Grid May Be Next
Canada’s energy grid differs from Spain’s in one critical way: more than 60% of its electricity comes from hydroelectric dams, which are more stable. But Canada is also aggressively pursuing electrification while phasing out fossil fuels, especially natural gas.
According to the Public Policy Forum, Canada would need to double its electrical generation capacity in 25 years to meet net-zero targets — all while taking reliable sources offline. That’s a tall order.
Is Green Energy Ready for Prime Time?
Even the pro-decarbonization Stockholm Environment Institute called the Spanish blackout a “wake-up call,” warning that aging grid systems may not be able to handle rapid green transitions without serious investment in infrastructure.
In short, the Iberian blackout isn’t just a freak event — it’s a flashing red warning light. If Canada, or any country, rushes toward electrification without grid resilience, the result could be a similar catastrophe.
As the dust settles in Spain and Portugal, one thing is clear: going green without a plan B could turn the lights off for
