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By Theo Burman
Live News Reporter
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The United Kingdom's electricity network experienced unusual disruptions just hours before a major blackout struck Spain and Portugal.
The National Grid ESO, which oversees the flow of electricity across the U.K., said it was investigating a series of unexpected frequency shifts that occurred on Sunday, shortly before widespread outages in the Iberian Peninsula.
Why It Matters
The U.K.'s investigation is vital because unexplained frequency fluctuations can hint at systemic weaknesses. As power grids integrate more renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, critics fear that they will become more vulnerable to disruptions that can spread rapidly.
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What To Know
Sunday evening saw a series of unexplained shutdowns at several power plants in the U.K., causing minor but abnormal variations in grid frequency, The Telegraph reported.
National Grid ESO emphasized that no widespread outages were reported domestically, but the anomalies warranted a deeper investigation.
Just hours later, Spain and Portugal suffered one of the worst energy failures in recent memory.
The Iberian Peninsula heavily relies on renewable sources like wind and solar, which can complicate grid management due to their variability, CNN reported. Without adequate backup systems, such networks can experience swift and massive outages.
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In Spain and Portugal, the blackout affected millions, shutting down trains, airports, and communication systems.
Major cities across the two countries, including Barcelona, Seville, and Valencia, were left without power. Around 15,000 Civil Guard officers and another 15,000 Citizen Security officers from the National Police were deployed across Spain as the blackout continued into the evening.
The cause of the Iberian blackout remains unclear. However, Spanish grid operator Red Eléctrica is examining whether the outage was triggered by a malfunction in transmission lines connecting Spain with its neighbor, France.
What People Are Saying
President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said in a statement on the power cuts: "I reaffirmed the EU Commission's support in monitoring the situation with national and European authorities and our Electricity Coordination Group.
"We will coordinate efforts and share information to help restore the electricity system, and agreed to stay in close contact."
Madrid Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida said: "I ask all residents of Madrid to keep their movements to an absolute minimum and, if at all possible, to remain where they are. We want to keep all roads clear."
What Happens Next
The U.K.'s National Grid is expected to release preliminary findings from its investigation within days.
Authorities in Europe pledged a thorough investigation to identify the exact causes and ensure system resilience in the future. Officials are expected to meet with European electricity grid operators later this week to discuss preventive measures against similar incidents.
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