21 h. ago Spain's socialist authorities 'were experimenting with how far they could push reliance on renewable energy' before country suffered huge power blackout

As people wait for answers about what caused the dystopian power cut, several have questioned Spain's heavy reliance on renewable energy sources.

Culture

40 h. ago Germany boosts Nato’s eastern flank with new Baltic brigade amid threat from Russia – Europe live

Friedrich Merz visits Lithuania to mark the official formation of Germany’s first permanent overseas military unit since the second world warPortugal wants European energy regulators’ agency ACER to lead an independent investigation into the causes of the huge power outage that brought most of Spain and Portugal to a standstill last month, its acting energy minister told Reuters.Maria da Graça Carvalho said prime minister Luís Montenegro wants an independent investigation led by the European Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators to complement the technical report being prepared by the European network of transmission system operators ENTSO-E. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago After Spain's blackout, questions about renewable energy are back

The massive power outage that hit the Iberian peninsula last month has reignited a debate in Spain over the country’s plan to phase out its nuclear reactors and generate more power with renewable energy

Politics

2 w. ago VE Day 80: Remembering Linlithgow's Munitionettes – The unsung heroes of victory

As we mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, our thoughts naturally turn to the immense sacrifices made across the nation and the world to secure peace. We remember the soldiers on the front lines, the leaders who navigated treacherous times, and the collective relief that swept across the continent. But VE Day is also a moment to reflect on the often-unsung heroes whose contributions, far from the battlefields, were just as vital to that hard-won victory. In my constituency, we have a powerful story of such heroism – the story of the Linlithgow Munitionettes.

Politics

3 w. ago ‘Blackouts can happen anywhere’: how power systems worldwide can collapse

After Europe’s biggest blackout in over 20 years, experts warn that while such incidents are rare, no grid is infallibleEurope’s biggest blackout in over 20 years on the Iberian peninsula unleashed hours of chaos for people in Spain, Portugal and parts of France earlier this week. But in the aftermath it has raised a common question for governments across the continent: could the same happen here?Europe’s political leaders and energy system operators have given assurances that such blackouts are extraordinarily rare, and that European power grids are some of the most stable in the world. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Minister warns against blaming Spain’s blackout on renewable energy

Spain’s environment minister, Sara Aagesen, promises ‘complete audit’ into causes of power outageEurope live – latest updatesSpain’s environment minister has warned against attempts to blame Monday’s unprecedented blackout across the Iberian peninsula on the increasing use of renewable energy, defending the reliability of the national grid and promising a “complete audit” to establish the causes of the outage.Speaking on Wednesday afternoon as a specially designated committee prepared to meet to investigate the blackout, Sara Aagesen pushed back at opposition parties’ claims that the socialist-led government’s drive to embrace renewable energy had compromised the grid’s stability. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Spanish PM calls on private energy firms to help find cause of massive power cut

Pedro Sánchez says changes needed to guarantee ‘supply and future competitiveness’ of electricity after blackout Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has called on private energy operators to help his government establish the cause of Monday’s unprecedented power cut across the Iberian peninsula, and said changes and improvements must be made to guarantee “the supply and future competitiveness” of the country’s electrical system.Spain and Portugal suffered a massive power loss that began just after 12.30pm on Monday and lasted into the night. At least five people are thought to have died in Spain as a result of the blackout, which left people trapped on paralysed trains and in the static lifts of apartment blocks and offices. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago Spain and why energy security's being sacrificed on the altar of green dogma: RUPERT DARWALL

The blackouts in Spain and Portugal this week viscerally exposed how vulnerable Europe's energy networks have become. Energy security has been sacrificed on the altar of green dogma.

Events

3 w. ago Did Spain’s push for renewable energy have any impact on its mass power blackout?

Spain is one of Europe's biggest producers of solar and wind power

Politics

3 w. ago From Spain's heavy reliance on solar and wind to 'anomalous oscillations' in power lines, scientists reveal what's to blame for the Iberian Peninsula's cascading power outage

Experts say Spain and Portugal's blackout is likely due to a combination of factors including Spain 's reliance on green energy and 'anomalous oscillations' in power lines.

Science

3 w. ago Spain and Portugal power cut live: Spanish PM hopes power will return soon and tells public to minimise travel and not speculate

Electricity consumption in Spain gradually going back up as grid operator restores energy in more parts of the countryExplainer: what happened and what caused it?Have you been affected by the power outages?We are just getting a line from Reuters news agency saying that the Conclave to elect new pope will start on 7 May, according to its source.We have not independently verified this report. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Spain and Portugal power outage live: Spanish electricity supply slowly returning as officials rule out cyber

Electricity consumption in Spain gradually going back up as grid operator restores energy in more parts of the countryHave you been affected by the power outages?We are just getting a line from Reuters news agency saying that the Conclave to elect new pope will start on 7 May, according to its source.We have not independently verified this report. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Could renewable energy be to blame for huge Spain blackout? How outage struck days after country's grid ran entirely on green power for the first time

The shocking blackouts have impacted millions of people with almost all of Spain and Portugal affected, along with parts of France and Belgium, according to the most recent reports

Politics