Meanwhile, speculation about sabotage or a cyberattack also emerged, with the usual whispers of potential Russian involvement. However, no solid evidence has backed those claims. Until investigators present clear findings, the truth remains elusive. What we do know is that the grid collapsed from the inside. Whether it was a technical fault, mismanagement, or something more planned, we are still waiting on more information.
From Total Failure to Gradual Recovery
The sudden drop triggered a domino effect. Spain’s entire electricity infrastructure, including nuclear, hydro, solar, wind, and thermal, shut down to protect itself. This kind of failure is called “el cero,” where the system loses so much input that it splits into smaller, powerless islands in order to prevent equipment damage, and to protect the infrastructure. Once collapsed, the restoration required careful, phased reactivation. Some areas got power back in hours; others waited well into the night.
Hospitals relied on backup generators. Airports cancelled hundreds of flights. Trains stranded over 35,000 passengers, some of whom were stuck for hours before finally being evacuated. Telecommunications failed across major carriers. Even global apps like WhatsApp and banking services like ING were down.
After this massive disruption, one thing became glaringly clear: most of us aren’t ready. Emergency preparedness isn’t just for conspiracy theorists and the paranoid. It’s for those who want to keep their home running if the infrastructure fails.
As a population, we can be better prepared.
Cash! When card readers go down and ATMs are non-functional, cash is possibly your most important resource. It’s important to keep a small emergency fund at home for essentials like food or transport.
Electric stoves are useless in a blackout. Gas stove tops and ovens, BBQs, or camping cookers can provide warm meals and hot water when everything else fails.
Battery packs, home solar chargers, and car chargers can recharge your phone or torch.
Keep at least three weeks of drinking water and tinned or freeze-dried food. Think canned goods, protein bars, and dry snacks.
Keep torches with spare batteries, candles, and battery operated radios.
Stay Calm
During a crisis, people’s reactions can be more dangerous than the situation itself. Fear can cloud better judgment. Rash decisions are usually poor decisions. It’s important to remain calm, and clear-headed, as this helps you protect yourself and those around you. Don’t give in to fear.
Luckily, so far, there have been no reported civil protection incidents. Still, many felt helpless, as information was scarce and transport solutions lagged. Some passengers, abandoned far from stations, had to walk kilometres just to find a way home.
This is where community is very important. Help your neighbours, check in to see if they need anything, share resources like batteries, water and food. The blackout is a reminder that when tech fails, human connection and preparation remain our greatest assets.
Spain’s energy system is modern, but not immune. Experts now recognize that a rapid shift to renewable energy, without compensatory stabilization, may have contributed to the crash. Limited interconnectivity with other European grids also left Spain more isolated than it should be.
Governments and utility providers must now re-examine strategies and assumptions. Is it wise to retire so much traditional capacity without investing in new stability systems? Are we doing enough to protect against cyber threats? Shouldn’t there be more cross-border connections to support one another?
Why are these questions decided only by policy makers, when they affect us all?
When the system fails, it’s us that face the financial loss, and potential impact on safety and health.
Be Prepared
Is this blackout a one-time event, or a warning? Either way, it’s a wake-up call.
Being prepared doesn’t mean being paranoid. It means being self-sufficient when systems we depend on falter. It means not assuming that because we live in the 21st century, everything will work 24/7. It’s good to have a plan, resources, and the peace of mind knowing you’re not completely reliant on the grid.
What are your thoughts about ‘El Apagón’? How did you cope during this blackout?
