Why Everyone Got Spain’s Blackout Wrong

Prof Janusz Bialek explains the real causes on the Iberian blackout (Spain and Portugal). On April 28, 2025, the Iberian power grid collapsed into darkness; but not because of a power shortage. The voltage was actually rising. So, how does that happen? I sat down with my Imperial College colleague, Prof. Janusz Bialek, to cut through the internet rumours and look at the official investigation behind this unprecedented blackout. We discuss what triggered the instability, why the grid couldn't stop it, and whether the popular claim that renewable energy is to blame is actually true. The reality is much more interesting! 👇 If you are finding this breakdown helpful, leaving a comment below is one of the best ways to support the video. 🔔To help scale up the channel's operations and bring you more of this high-level science outreach, consider supporting my work on Patreon:   / profgio   ☕If a monthly commitment isn't for you, but you still want to help support the channel's growth, I have also set up a Buy Me a Coffee page: https://buymeacoffee.com/profgio 🔔 Subscribe for more breakdowns of our power grids and global energy systems. ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 - The Paradox Behind the 2025 Iberian Blackout 01:38 - Internet Rumours 03:47 - The Conditions Before the Collapse 04:22 - Grid Oscillations Explained 07:22 - Sub-Synchronous Oscillations in Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs) 09:12 - The Chain of Events 11:33 - Why the Safety Systems Failed 13:29 - Spain vs. Portugal: A Regulatory Failure 16:29 - Are Renewables Actually to Blame? 18:23 - The Real Lesson for Future Grids 📚 References Discussed: Prof Bialek non-technical analysis: https://lnkd.in/de5RjzPd ENTSO-e final technical report: https://www.entsoe.eu/publications/bl... 🏷️ Tags: #RenewableEnergy #spain #portugal #blackout #EnergyTransition #ProfGio #Engineering #CleanEnergy #PowerGrid #NetZero #ClimatePolicy