The recent power outages in Spain have brought with them an intense debate on the role of renewable energy and the current state of the grid. Warnings from Electric Network about the possible risks derived from the massive integration of renewables are not new, since different technical and financial reports have been pointing out the need to adapt the system and its protocols to this new energy scenario.
Over the past few months, both institutions as operators of the electrical system have made public a series of documents that emphasize the effects that a high presence of renewables can have on the security and stability of supply. The loss of backup technologies, the atomization of generation or the insufficiency of Real-time information, are among the concerns that have marked these reports.
Repeated warnings from Red Eléctrica
In its role as national operator, Spanish Electricity Network (REE) already notified in its February annual report several risks linked to the growing presence of green energyOne of the main ones was the possibility of a severe disconnection from the generation in the face of disturbances, especially when the grid operates with a marked predominance of renewables compared to other conventional sources.
The report expressly mentioned that a high penetration of technologies such as wind or solar, without adequate technical capabilities, could make it difficult to balance generation and demandThis scenario would entail the risk of serious damage to the supply and the perception of reliability of the electrical system Spanish.
The most recent blackout situation occurred in a context where The sector was operating with less than half of the nuclear reactors in operation and a nearly minimal share of hydroelectric and combined cycle power plants, displaced by renewable energy production. The result was a very low price in the wholesale market, but also a certain operational vulnerability.
Need to update protection protocols
The Government itself acknowledged the receipt, already in January, of a technical document urging a review of the general protection criteria of the electrical system. This report, submitted by REE, emphasized that the current protocols (some dating back to 1996 and 2011) required a urgent update to adapt to the new context marked by the massive entry of renewables and the displacement of traditional thermal technologies.
The document warned that the integration of renewable energies, especially those based on power electronics such as solar photovoltaic and wind, It involves changes in the criticality of evacuation points of energy within the grid. Thus, old substations designed to supply demand became nodes to evacuate large amounts of renewable generation, requiring more sophisticated protective equipment adapted to new needs.
Technical experts also warned of the possibility that The fragmentation of small renewable energy facilities could leave information gaps over actual production, making safe, real-time management of the system difficult.
The debate on the resilience of the energy mix
The issue is not limited to technological matters. As the share of renewables in the energy mix grows—already reaching nearly 40% according to recent data— the reduction in the share of nuclear and hydroelectric power and the planned abandonment of coal and gas have raised questions about the overall network resilience to incidents unforeseen.
Regulatory authorities, such as the CNMC, have found that the voltage in the network has sometimes reached maximum values or even exceeded them, highlighting the pressure that the new energy model exerts on the systemMeanwhile, on the political and media front, there is debate about whether to accelerate or slow the energy transition before ensuring that the backup mechanisms are fully implemented.
Moreover, the efficiency of solar generation can be affected by factors such as the increase in ambient temperature, what I could reduce the availability of generation at certain times and in certain areas of the country, deepening operational challenges.
What measures are proposed?
Red Eléctrica has raised Strengthen international interconnections, deploy storage systems and smart grids, as well as developing technology capable of providing the inertia and strength necessary for network stability even in situations of maximum renewable input. However, The implementation of these solutions is progressive and requires time, while changes in the energy mix are progressing at a rapid pace.
The debate remains open and, although the Government and REE emphasize that the Spanish system is solid and that a direct and exclusive relationship cannot be established between the cause of the blackout and the rise of renewables, the technical and media community insists that The warnings have been on the table for months.The review of protocols and the adaptation of the protection system appear to be a shared priority.
