group of people walking inside building without lights.

How fragile power grids and extreme weather combined to cause Europe’s biggest blackout in decades

A widespread blackout in Spain, Portugal, and parts of France has exposed the growing vulnerabilities of modern power grids as they adapt to climate change, cyber threats and the renewable energy transition.

Jillian Ambrose reports for The Guardian.

In short:

Europe’s largest blackout in over 20 years disrupted Spain, Portugal, and parts of France, with experts warning that no grid can be fully immune to collapse.
While natural disasters and extreme weather events are major risks, human error, cyber-attacks, and the complexities of integrating renewable energy also threaten grid stability.
Spain’s blackout was triggered by a rapid, unexplained loss of power generation, raising questions about grid resilience as countries transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.

Key quote:

“Despite today’s high standards of reliability, low-probability but high-impact blackout events can still happen.”

— Prof Jianzhong Wu, head of the school of engineering at Cardiff University

Why this matters:

As nations race to decarbonize their energy supplies and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, power grids face mounting challenges. Renewable energy sources like wind and solar offer cleaner alternatives but introduce variability and complexity to grid operations. Unlike traditional power plants, renewables lack the mechanical inertia that stabilizes grid frequency, making systems more vulnerable to sudden disruptions. Climate change intensifies these risks by increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events that can damage infrastructure. The blackout across the Iberian Peninsula is a stark reminder that energy resilience requires more than just green technology — it demands robust, adaptive infrastructure capable of weathering both natural and human threats.

Learn more: Spain defends renewables amid major blackout investigation

www.theguardian.com

Credit: Antonio Garcia/Unsplash

California mining company turns to solar heat but can’t quit coal just yet

In California’s Mojave Desert, a mining plant is turning to solar thermal energy to replace one of its coal-fired generators, but a second unit may run for years due to the intense heat and 24-hour power it needs.

Ivan Penn reports for The New York Times.

In short:

Searles Valley Minerals, a mining company in Trona, Calif., is replacing one of its two coal plants with a solar thermal system but says the other may need to stay online for the foreseeable future due to operational demands.
The company will use a concentrating solar power system from start-up GlassPoint, which uses mirrors to generate high heat, a solution that works well in hot, sunny areas but requires a large land footprint and remains rare in the U.S.
Despite California’s push to phase out coal and President Trump’s efforts to revive it, economic and geographic constraints continue to complicate full industrial transitions away from fossil fuels.

Key quote:

“We just think coal is going to be a problem. We’re going to have a hard time sourcing it. We need to be ready to pivot.”

— Dennis Cruise, president of Searles Valley Minerals

Why this matters:

Industrial heat — the kind used in mining, chemical production, and heavy manufacturing — accounts for about half of global energy use, yet it’s rarely mentioned in public climate debates. Unlike home heating or car travel, generating this level of heat without fossil fuels is still tough. Most renewable energy technologies don’t deliver the extreme, continuous heat these facilities need. That leaves industries like the one in Trona stuck with coal, even as it becomes harder to source and politically unpopular. As the U.S. attempts to decarbonize, industrial energy needs present one of the biggest hurdles.

Read the Full Article on

www.nytimes.com

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