The Iberian Peninsula blackout was not caused by a single trigger but by a cascading failure of automated protection systems. This demonstrates how multiple, seemingly minor issues can compound in a complex, interconnected system to create a major failure.
Investigations revealed that the TSO, regulator, and generators had inconsistent understandings of voltage rules, while the grid operator relied on intensive manual interventions. For example, operators manually switched 84 shunt reactors in just 3.5 hours on the day of the blackout.
Previously, only dispatchable power plants could provide voltage support in Spain, and the basic controls on renewables actually worsened the situation during the blackout. New regulations now allow renewable assets to participate in and be compensated for providing these crucial grid services.
The discussion contrasts traditional CAPEX-based regulatory models, which reward building new assets, with the more modern TOTEX (total expenditure) model pioneered by the UK. The TOTEX model incentivizes both capital and operational spending, encouraging innovation in grid management.
Keep pulling the thread on Eva Gonzalez-Isla.