Latest news with #Iberdrola
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Spain's grid operator blames power plants for blackout, disputes miscalculation
By Pietro Lombardi MADRID (Reuters) -Spanish grid operator Redeia blamed power plants for the massive blackout that affected the Iberian peninsula in April, as it disputed a government report that said its failure to calculate the correct energy mix was a key factor. While agreeing that a surge in voltage was the immediate cause of the outage, REE-owner Redeia blamed it on some conventional power plants - thermal power plants using coal, gas and nuclear - for failing to help maintain an appropriate voltage. "Based on our calculation, there were enough voltage control capabilities planned" by Redeia, operations chief Concha Sanchez told a news briefing on Wednesday. "Had conventional power plants done their job in controlling the voltage there would have been no blackout," she said. Redeia, which is partly state-owned, also discovered anomalies in the disconnection of power plants in the run-up to the April 28 outage, even though voltage in the system was within legal limits, Sanchez said. A combined-cycle plant that was supposed to provide stability to the system disconnected in the first seconds of the blackout when it should not have, while there was also an anomalous growth in demand from the transport network, she said. Aelec, which represents Spain's main electricity companies including Iberdrola and Endesa, said on Wednesday that "claiming everything was done correctly" while blaming some power plants for the blackout was damaging to the sector's reputation. "The operator failed to safely cover all the system's needs," the lobby added. Redeia on Wednesday released its own full report on the causes of the outage, a day after the Spanish government published its findings. The government's report released on Tuesday said Redeia's miscalculation was one of the factors hindering the grid's ability to cope with a surge in voltage that led to the outage that caused gridlock in cities across the Iberian peninsula and left tens of thousands stranded on trains overnight or stuck in lifts. But Sanchez said the system was in "absolutely normal conditions" at noon just before the blackout and that adding another gas plant to the system to absorb additional voltage would have made no difference. Redeia Chair Beatriz Corredor told the same news briefing she had absolute faith in the company's calculations and that the operator had complied with all procedures and rules. "Red Electrica didn't breach any procedure and has acted diligently," Chief Executive Roberto Garcia Merino said at the briefing, adding that as a result he did not expect the company to face any claims.
CNBC
5 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
Miscalculation by Spanish power grid operator REE contributed to massive blackout, report finds
Spanish grid operator REE's failure to calculate the correct mix of energy was one of the factors hindering the grid's ability to cope with a surge in voltage that led to the massive blackout across Spain and Portugal on April 28, a government investigation concluded. The report, made public on Tuesday, also blames power generators for the worst-ever blackout to have hit Spain and Portugal, since some conventional power plants, such as nuclear and gas-fired plants, failed to help maintain an appropriate voltage level in the power system that day. "The system did not have sufficient voltage control capabilities," Spanish Energy Minister Sara Aagesen told a news briefing in Madrid. "Either because they were not sufficiently programmed, or because those that were programmed did not adequately provide what was required by the standard, or a combination of both," she said. While several factors played a role that day, Aagesen confirmed that the ultimate cause was a surge in voltage that the grid was unable to absorb. It triggered a cascade of disconnections of generation. Voltage surges can be caused by multiple factors ranging from lightning strikes, faulty equipment, or grid instability. The probe pointed to grid instability earlier that morning. REE, which is partly state-owned, did not have enough thermal power stations switched on when the voltage surge caused a chain reaction leading to the power outage, Aagesen said. 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 caused massive gridlock in cities and left thousands stranded on trains and in elevators across the Iberian peninsula. 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," Aagesen said. Utilities lobby Aelec, which represents Spain's main electricity companies including Iberdrola and Endesa, said in a statement it agreed that voltage control was the main cause of the outage, adding that "the responsibility for ensuring such control lies with" REE as system operator. It has evidence that the power plants controlled by the companies it represents "have complied with the regulatory requirements regarding voltage control" even "operating above the regulatory obligations" to help stabilise grid. Despite having sufficient resources to guarantee voltage control, REE "opted to manage voltage with limited synchronous capacity and an unbalanced geographical distribution, which left the system in a vulnerable situation," it said. REE did not immediately reply to requests for comment. Its chairman will hold a press conference on Wednesday. The government said on Tuesday it would propose measures to strengthen the grid and improve its ability to control voltage in the system. It would also push to further integrate the peninsula with the European grid, it said. Pratheeksha Ramdas, Senior New Energies Analyst and Iberia power market expert at Rystad Energy said the incident highlighted the essential role thermal power plants, especially gas-fired plants continued to play. "It appears that the blackout reflects a critical failure in the Spanish electricity system not due to lack of installed capacity but due to mismanagement of available energy resources and accountability in grid operations," Ramdas said.
Associated Press
13-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
In Celebration of Father's Day, Avangrid Recognizes Three Generations of Allen Family Working at Colorado Energy Projects
LAMAR, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 13, 2025-- In celebration of Father's Day Weekend, Avangrid, Inc., a leading energy company and member of the Iberdrola Group, recognizes three generations of a single family that have worked at the company's Colorado energy projects over the past two decades. The Allen Family, which has helped build a culture of safety, service, and integrity at Avangrid, has seen three generations of fathers and sons work at the company's various energy projects in Colorado, including the Colorado Green and San Luis projects. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Pictured: Larry Allen with his son, Chris Allen. Photo Courtesy of Avangrid 'Father's Day is our annual opportunity to honor and commemorate the guidance, support, and love that comes from fathers and father figures,' said Pedro Azagra, Avangrid CEO. 'Our teams do an incredible job of creating a welcoming and positive work environment and we are proud to provide opportunities for multiple generations at Avangrid. The story of the Allen Family is not only an inspiration, it represents the culture and proud legacy Avangrid's employees work to build every day.' The story begins with Larry C. Allen (1947–2010), a U.S. Air Force veteran who served in radar operations in the late 1960s. His military service planted the seeds for a lifelong commitment to technology, responsibility, and integrity. After working in appliance and television repair, Larry joined the energy sector, eventually becoming a Lead/Senior Technician at Avangrid's Colorado Green project in 2008. He quickly earned a reputation as a trusted team player and safety leader. 'Larry was an outstanding team player who influenced the character of the entire team,' said Jason Sheaves, senior director of field operations at Avangrid. 'He always led the charge to get things done while staying focused on keeping everyone safe. His sudden passing in 2010 was a staggering loss—we all miss him to this day.' Larry's passion for safety and integrity shaped his son, Chris Allen, who followed Larry's footsteps at Colorado Green and now works as the supervisor at Avangrid's San Luis Solar project, also located in Colorado. Inspired by his father's work ethic, Chris served in the U.S. Navy from 2000 to 2009 as an advanced electronics technician, laying the technical foundation for his career at Avangrid. Chris approaches his work with the same principles and values his father lived by and ingrained in him. 'Safety for the people you are around is the most important aspect of the job, any job in our company,' said Avangrid Supervisor Chris Allen. 'Always look out for your colleagues in the field. Have integrity in everything you do.' Beyond his technical expertise, Chris also served as a mentor helping prepare new hires who graduate from Avangrid's National Training Center. His approach mirrors the values his father instilled in him: take responsibility, do the work well, and always protect your team. Today, that legacy continues into a third generation through Chris's son, Christjan J. Nieschburg, who serves as a technician and environmental health & safety coordinator at Colorado Green. 'They both instilled hard work and discipline in me from a young age, and I'm so proud to have learned from them,' said Nieschburg. Outside of work, the Allen family remains deeply committed to each other, enjoying outdoor pursuits like fishing, hunting, and exploring the mountains. Their commitment to family mirrors the care they bring to the workplace every day. At its core, the Allen family story is a reflection of what makes Avangrid special: a workplace where integrity, safety, and service aren't just words, but guiding principles passed down from one generation to the next. About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. is a leading energy company in the United States working to meet the growing demand for energy for homes and businesses across the nation through service, innovation, and continued investments by expanding grid infrastructure and energy generation projects. Avangrid has offices in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, and Oregon, including operations in 23 states with approximately $48 billion in assets, and has two primary lines of business: networks and power. Through its networks business, Avangrid owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.4 million customers in New York and New England. Through its power generation business, Avangrid owns and operates more than 75 energy generation facilities across the United States producing 10.5 GW of power for over 3.1 million customers. Avangrid employs approximately 8,000 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America's best corporate citizens – in 2025 for the fifth consecutive year. The company was named among the World's Most Ethical Companies in 2025 for the seventh consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. For more information, visit View source version on CONTACT: Media Contact: Keaton Thomas [email protected] 503-956-9621 KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA COLORADO INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ENVIRONMENT VETERANS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH UTILITIES ALTERNATIVE ENERGY ENERGY FAMILY CONSUMER DEFENSE SOURCE: AVANGRID, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 06/13/2025 01:12 PM/DISC: 06/13/2025 01:10 PM
Reuters
13-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Iberdrola, Endesa propose review of Spain's nuclear phase-out calendar
MADRID, June 13 (Reuters) - Spain's energy companies Iberdrola ( opens new tab and Endesa ( opens new tab have sent a proposal to review the nuclear phase-out calendar, an Energy Ministry spokesperson told Reuters on Friday. The proposal was not endorsed by all the companies with stakes in Spain's nuclear fleet: Naturgy ( opens new tab and EDP ( opens new tab did not sign it, the spokesperson said. The proposal links the extension to a revision of the tax framework and, as such, isn't in line with the conditions set by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to open a discussion over the review, namely that it guarantees security of supply, safety and it doesn't weigh on taxpayers.
CTV News
12-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Some Newfoundland hydrogen companies behind in bills as industry hype ‘boils off'
Hydrogen storage tanks are visible at the Iberdrola green hydrogen plant in Puertollano, Spain, on March 28, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Bernat Armangue ST. JOHN'S — Newfoundland and Labrador is owed millions of dollars in fees from green energy companies, underlining growing doubts about whether promises of major projects and multi-billion dollar investments will pan out. Six companies are vying to create new operations in the province that would use wind energy to produce hydrogen for exports overseas. Figures obtained by The Canadian Press reveal some owe a collective total of $13.7 million in fees due in 2024 for the use of Crown land. Russell Williams, an associate political science professor at Memorial University in St. John's, N.L., said he's not surprised the companies have land fees outstanding. 'I think it highlights the extent to which the public should be skeptical about megaprojects, and about governments getting very carried away, very early, with the idea that there are huge benefits from these kinds of natural resource developments,' Williams said in a recent interview. However, the province insists the money will be collected. 'The provincial government has not written off any outstanding Crown land reserve fees and expects to collect all revenue owing for these fees,' said an emailed statement from Steve Crocker, minister of industry, energy and technology. The industry began paying the fees after the provincial government invited companies to bid on Crown land to use for wind energy projects in December 2022. By paying the fees, the companies have the option to lease the land if they choose to move forward with projects. But it's not clear which developments will proceed even though the companies have now reserved roughly 3,944 square kilometres of Crown land. Executives from the six companies told an energy conference in St. John's, N.L., last week that it's been tough to find buyers on the overseas market to make their projects viable. Some companies said they were considering other options in the meantime, including an anticipated call for renewable energy for the local grid in Newfoundland and Labrador. 'In 2021, 2022 the world thought everything was going to be running on hydrogen,' Karlis Povisils, with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, told reporters during the conference. 'I think the hype has boiled off, and that's a healthy thing. The players that are left are the ones that are serious and committed.' The companies owed a collective total of about $22.1 million in Crown land reserve fees for 2024, Crocker said. The province collected just $8.4 million, according to figures obtained through access to information legislation. In 2023, the province received $5,491,316 in Crown land reserve fees — exactly the amount it was owed, the department confirmed. Only three of the six companies confirmed to the Canadian Press their fees were up to date: North Atlantic, Pattern Energy, and the Exploits Valley Renewable Energy Corporation, or EVREC. Other companies weren't as clear. A spokesperson for World Energy GH2, which proposed a $16-billion wind-powered hydrogen operation in western Newfoundland, said the company has paid 'millions' in Crown land reserve fees. She did not confirm if it had paid all of its fees for 2024. 'We continue to reserve Crown lands, and incur fees related to our reservation, and will continue to service our obligations,' Laura Barron said in an email. A spokesperson for EverWind, which has proposed wind-to-hydrogen projects in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, said the company has paid $5.6 million in reserve fees, 'but we cannot comment further as we are in ongoing land reservation discussions with the province.' EverWind Fuels is one of two companies that have asked the province to reduce the amount of land held in reserve for its proposed development. Using the reduced land reserve, the company would have owed more than $8 million in 2024. ABO Energy, which is working with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners on a project in eastern Newfoundland, has also reduced its Crown land reserve. The company said it is working with the government 'to ensure compliance' with reserve fee conditions. 'And indeed, we are working to create the ecosystem that this nascent industry demands,' said spokesperson Heidi Kirby in an email. Tom Cooper, a business professor at Memorial University, said forgoing the land fees could be a way for the province to fund the developments, 'without handing over hard cash.' Williams added that the fees are quite small compared to the cost of some of the projects. He worries the provincial government undervalued its resources and got swept up in 'pie-in-the-sky' promises of megaprojects that would produce jobs. 'One of the things that always gets lost in those calculations is the public interest,' Williams said. 'The public interest here is what kind of royalties and revenues was the province going to get ... and it looks like, unless something changes, the benefits are tiny and in arrears.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2025. Sarah Smellie, The Canadian Press
