Miscalculation led to Spain power outage: govt report
Spain's power grid operator REE miscalculated its power capacity needs on the day that a surge in voltage caused a massive blackout across the Iberian peninsula in April, a government investigation has concluded.
REE did not have enough thermal power stations switched on during peak hours of April 28 when the surge caused a chain reaction leading to the power outage, Spain's Energy Minister Sara Aagesen said on Tuesday.
"The system did not have sufficient dynamic voltage control capacity," Aagesen told a news briefing in Madrid.
REE "told us that they made their calculations and estimated that (switching on more thermal plants) was not necessary at this time. They only set it for the early hours of the day, not the central hours."
The blackout that lasted for several hours caused massive gridlock in cities and left thousands stranded on trains and in elevators across the Iberian peninsula.
An extensive report on the investigation, which will be made public later on Tuesday, concluded that some power plants that are required by law to regulate the grid's voltage failed to do so in the moments before the power outage.
Power plants "should have controlled voltage and, moreover, many of them were economically remunerated to do so. They did not absorb all the reactive power that was expected in a context of high voltages," she added.
Europe electricity grids' frequency or voltage is maintained at 50 Hertz to ensure stability.
Even slight deviations can lead to damage of equipment and infrastructure.
Keeping it stable requires electricity generation companies to adjust their output to match demand and the grid operator usually has tools to inform them when to do so by monitoring continually the status of the frequency and knowing when demand might be higher or lower.
A drop in frequency shows demand has exceeded supply and a rise shows supply is not matching demand.
The investigation found no evidence of a cyber attack, she added.
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4 days ago
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Miscalculation led to Spain power outage: govt report
Spain's power grid operator REE miscalculated its power capacity needs on the day that a surge in voltage caused a massive blackout across the Iberian peninsula in April, a government investigation has concluded. REE did not have enough thermal power stations switched on during peak hours of April 28 when the surge caused a chain reaction leading to the power outage, Spain's Energy Minister Sara Aagesen said on Tuesday. "The system did not have sufficient dynamic voltage control capacity," Aagesen told a news briefing in Madrid. REE "told us that they made their calculations and estimated that (switching on more thermal plants) was not necessary at this time. They only set it for the early hours of the day, not the central hours." The blackout that lasted for several hours caused massive gridlock in cities and left thousands stranded on trains and in elevators across the Iberian peninsula. An extensive report on the investigation, which will be made public later on Tuesday, concluded that some power plants that are required by law to regulate the grid's voltage failed to do so in the moments before the power outage. Power plants "should have controlled voltage and, moreover, many of them were economically remunerated to do so. They did not absorb all the reactive power that was expected in a context of high voltages," she added. Europe electricity grids' frequency or voltage is maintained at 50 Hertz to ensure stability. Even slight deviations can lead to damage of equipment and infrastructure. Keeping it stable requires electricity generation companies to adjust their output to match demand and the grid operator usually has tools to inform them when to do so by monitoring continually the status of the frequency and knowing when demand might be higher or lower. A drop in frequency shows demand has exceeded supply and a rise shows supply is not matching demand. The investigation found no evidence of a cyber attack, she added. Spain's power grid operator REE miscalculated its power capacity needs on the day that a surge in voltage caused a massive blackout across the Iberian peninsula in April, a government investigation has concluded. REE did not have enough thermal power stations switched on during peak hours of April 28 when the surge caused a chain reaction leading to the power outage, Spain's Energy Minister Sara Aagesen said on Tuesday. "The system did not have sufficient dynamic voltage control capacity," Aagesen told a news briefing in Madrid. REE "told us that they made their calculations and estimated that (switching on more thermal plants) was not necessary at this time. They only set it for the early hours of the day, not the central hours." The blackout that lasted for several hours caused massive gridlock in cities and left thousands stranded on trains and in elevators across the Iberian peninsula. An extensive report on the investigation, which will be made public later on Tuesday, concluded that some power plants that are required by law to regulate the grid's voltage failed to do so in the moments before the power outage. Power plants "should have controlled voltage and, moreover, many of them were economically remunerated to do so. They did not absorb all the reactive power that was expected in a context of high voltages," she added. Europe electricity grids' frequency or voltage is maintained at 50 Hertz to ensure stability. Even slight deviations can lead to damage of equipment and infrastructure. Keeping it stable requires electricity generation companies to adjust their output to match demand and the grid operator usually has tools to inform them when to do so by monitoring continually the status of the frequency and knowing when demand might be higher or lower. A drop in frequency shows demand has exceeded supply and a rise shows supply is not matching demand. The investigation found no evidence of a cyber attack, she added. Spain's power grid operator REE miscalculated its power capacity needs on the day that a surge in voltage caused a massive blackout across the Iberian peninsula in April, a government investigation has concluded. REE did not have enough thermal power stations switched on during peak hours of April 28 when the surge caused a chain reaction leading to the power outage, Spain's Energy Minister Sara Aagesen said on Tuesday. "The system did not have sufficient dynamic voltage control capacity," Aagesen told a news briefing in Madrid. REE "told us that they made their calculations and estimated that (switching on more thermal plants) was not necessary at this time. They only set it for the early hours of the day, not the central hours." The blackout that lasted for several hours caused massive gridlock in cities and left thousands stranded on trains and in elevators across the Iberian peninsula. An extensive report on the investigation, which will be made public later on Tuesday, concluded that some power plants that are required by law to regulate the grid's voltage failed to do so in the moments before the power outage. Power plants "should have controlled voltage and, moreover, many of them were economically remunerated to do so. They did not absorb all the reactive power that was expected in a context of high voltages," she added. Europe electricity grids' frequency or voltage is maintained at 50 Hertz to ensure stability. Even slight deviations can lead to damage of equipment and infrastructure. Keeping it stable requires electricity generation companies to adjust their output to match demand and the grid operator usually has tools to inform them when to do so by monitoring continually the status of the frequency and knowing when demand might be higher or lower. A drop in frequency shows demand has exceeded supply and a rise shows supply is not matching demand. The investigation found no evidence of a cyber attack, she added. Spain's power grid operator REE miscalculated its power capacity needs on the day that a surge in voltage caused a massive blackout across the Iberian peninsula in April, a government investigation has concluded. REE did not have enough thermal power stations switched on during peak hours of April 28 when the surge caused a chain reaction leading to the power outage, Spain's Energy Minister Sara Aagesen said on Tuesday. "The system did not have sufficient dynamic voltage control capacity," Aagesen told a news briefing in Madrid. REE "told us that they made their calculations and estimated that (switching on more thermal plants) was not necessary at this time. They only set it for the early hours of the day, not the central hours." The blackout that lasted for several hours caused massive gridlock in cities and left thousands stranded on trains and in elevators across the Iberian peninsula. An extensive report on the investigation, which will be made public later on Tuesday, concluded that some power plants that are required by law to regulate the grid's voltage failed to do so in the moments before the power outage. Power plants "should have controlled voltage and, moreover, many of them were economically remunerated to do so. They did not absorb all the reactive power that was expected in a context of high voltages," she added. Europe electricity grids' frequency or voltage is maintained at 50 Hertz to ensure stability. Even slight deviations can lead to damage of equipment and infrastructure. Keeping it stable requires electricity generation companies to adjust their output to match demand and the grid operator usually has tools to inform them when to do so by monitoring continually the status of the frequency and knowing when demand might be higher or lower. A drop in frequency shows demand has exceeded supply and a rise shows supply is not matching demand. The investigation found no evidence of a cyber attack, she added.
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Miscalculation led to Spain power outage: govt report
Spain's power grid operator REE miscalculated its power capacity needs on the day that a surge in voltage caused a massive blackout across the Iberian peninsula in April, a government investigation has concluded. REE did not have enough thermal power stations switched on during peak hours of April 28 when the surge caused a chain reaction leading to the power outage, Spain's Energy Minister Sara Aagesen said on Tuesday. "The system did not have sufficient dynamic voltage control capacity," Aagesen told a news briefing in Madrid. REE "told us that they made their calculations and estimated that (switching on more thermal plants) was not necessary at this time. They only set it for the early hours of the day, not the central hours." The blackout that lasted for several hours caused massive gridlock in cities and left thousands stranded on trains and in elevators across the Iberian peninsula. An extensive report on the investigation, which will be made public later on Tuesday, concluded that some power plants that are required by law to regulate the grid's voltage failed to do so in the moments before the power outage. Power plants "should have controlled voltage and, moreover, many of them were economically remunerated to do so. They did not absorb all the reactive power that was expected in a context of high voltages," she added. Europe electricity grids' frequency or voltage is maintained at 50 Hertz to ensure stability. Even slight deviations can lead to damage of equipment and infrastructure. Keeping it stable requires electricity generation companies to adjust their output to match demand and the grid operator usually has tools to inform them when to do so by monitoring continually the status of the frequency and knowing when demand might be higher or lower. A drop in frequency shows demand has exceeded supply and a rise shows supply is not matching demand. The investigation found no evidence of a cyber attack, she added.
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06-06-2025
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REE engages engineers for Kenyan project
Special Report: RareX has locked in global engineering firm Ausenco to oversee the early-stage infrastructure and desktop development studies for the Mrima Hill critical minerals project in Kenya. RareX appoints Ausenco to lead feasibility studies, process design, construction readiness and engineering at Mrima Hill Ausenco will undertake early-stage work to support responsible and well-informed development Physical works will only proceed once the appropriate licences are granted by the government of Kenya and local communities Ausenco is a recognised leader in consulting, engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) and is majority owned by Resource Capital Funds, a US-based investment group headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Ausenco brings deep experience delivering complex, high-impact projects across Africa and globally, including Kenya where they were the lead engineering, procurement and construction management company for the Kwale mineral sands mine. RareX (ASX:REE) will ensure Ausenco are supported by local, Kenyan-based engineering and construction firms as it carries out a range of different development tasks such as desktop engineering studies, identification of community-facing infrastructure needs and assessments of energy requirements. Background on Mrima Hill Mrima Hill, a globally significant rare earths and niobium project with additional potential for manganese and phosphate, is the subject of a proposal submitted by the RareX–Iluka consortium, along with supporting partners, including WSP, Curtin University and Ausenco. RareX has brought together a consortium of expert institutions and financiers from Australia and the US to support Mrima Hill, with a full project proposal presented to the Kenyan government. The consortium and proposal partners were recently convened by the Kenyan high Commissioner, HE Dr Kogo in Perth. Proactive engagement to fast-track development REE managing director James Durrant said this is about laying down the foundation for a world-class project – one that is grounded in practicality, regional understanding and long-term community value. 'Ausenco has already worked in this part of Kenya and brings a unique ability to translate available knowledge into actionable engineering and infrastructure design,' he said. 'Their early engagement allows us to move quickly and responsibly, building out a robust understanding of what Mrima Hill can look like before we access the ground. 'Physical works will only proceed once the appropriate licences are granted by the Government of Kenya and local communities have been engaged and brought along on the journey – ensuring both legal and social licence to operate are fully respected,' Durrant added. 'With the support of Ausenco and our broader team, RareX is demonstrating its ability to develop this project in the best possible way – structured, experienced, and respectful of the setting we're working in.' What else is happening? REE believes the appointment strengthens its preparedness as the lead developer of Mrima Hill. Key implications include early derisking of project infrastructure and layout, use of existing data to build commercial and technical frameworks and strong alignment with Kenya's infrastructure development priorities. REE's Mrima Hill proposal, submitted via Kenya's Specially Permitted Procurement Method (SPPM), outlines a phased, sovereign-partnered development. This work with Ausenco ensures the company remains on the front foot as ESG, social, and technical workstreams continue to progress in parallel. This article was developed in collaboration with RareX, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions. Originally published as RareX engages engineers for Mrima Hill critical minerals project in Kenya
