Conservative Energy Network Statement on European Power Outage

Calls for Urgent Investment in Grid Infrastructure

April 29, 2025 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to media reports surrounding the recent power outages that impacted parts of Spain, Portugal, and France, the Conservative Energy Network (CEN) issued the following statement and urges policymakers to focus on solutions for the outdated and overstressed electric transmission systems.

“Recent speculation that blames two solar generation sites during a period of low energy demand for the temporary power outages in Southern Europe distracts from the real issue which is the insufficient investment in modernizing transmission infrastructure,” said John Szoka, CEO of the Conservative Energy Network. “As an organization committed to advancing conservative energy solutions, we urge a fact-based discussion that supports grid reliability, security, affordability, and energy resilience.”

According to statements by European grid operators, including Spain’s Red Eléctrica and Portugal’s REN, the incident stemmed from high-voltage instability that caused a disconnection in the European interconnection system and not from the inherent nature of solar power. REN specifically described the event as a result of “induced atmospheric vibration” triggered by extreme temperature fluctuations, leading to synchronization failures between national grids.

Spanish energy officials confirmed that nuclear facilities were offline during the event, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez underscored that the outage occurred during a period of low demand, with ample energy supply. “The claim that renewable sources such as solar was the direct cause of the outage misrepresents the facts of the situation,” added John Szoka.

Spanish energy expert Carlos Cagigal noted that the substation failure and lack of adequate redundancy, and not the presence of solar, were the key vulnerabilities exposed by the blackout. Similarly, Kristian Ruby of Eurelectric highlighted that a combination of grid disruptions and transmission weaknesses, rather than any one generation source, were necessary to cause such a system-wide event.

This event underscores a global imperative that every nation must prioritize investment in their electric transmission systems so that they are capable of supporting a diverse array of energy generation sources and are able to withstand both environmental extremes and demand surges. Building resilient, flexible grid infrastructure is essential for ensuring energy security, economic competitiveness, and public safety in a rapidly changing energy landscape.

CEN urges conservative leaders and policymakers to support expanded investments in transmission upgrades, grid flexibility technologies, and diversified generation portfolios to avoid these disruption events in the future. Renewable energy, including solar, plays an essential role in creating a secure and competitive electricity system, especially when integrated with storage, responsive demand systems, and robust infrastructure.

“This is not about renewables versus nuclear or fossil fuels,” said Szoka. “This is about building a 21st-century grid that can handle a diverse mix of energy sources, withstand environmental extremes, and serve consumers reliably and affordably.”

###

Conservative Energy Network (CEN) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit coalition of state-based conservative clean energy organizations advancing policy solutions that emphasize market competition, consumer choice, and innovation. Learn more at www.conservativeenergynetwork.org.