Brussels/Strasbourg – During the May plenary session, Members of the European Parliament (EP) discussed the significant power outage that impacted Spain, Portugal, and parts of southern France. Two Slovak MEPs from the EP Committee on the Environment shared their insights on the incident and potential preventive measures when speaking with TASR.
Michal Wiezik (RE, PS) pointed out that although an investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the outage, many have prematurely labeled renewable energy sources as the primary factor from the very first day of the incident (April 28).
“Both the right and far-right factions have clung to this narrative, even suggesting in the European Parliament plenary that climate fanaticism is responsible for plunging Spain and Portugal into darkness,” he remarked. He clarified that while renewable energy is essential as a viable alternative to conventional sources, its effectiveness relies on a diversified and robust transmission and storage infrastructure. Despite being aware of this need since the 1990s, the EU still lacks the necessary technological advancements and capacity in its transmission and distribution networks to accommodate large-scale renewable energy integration. Wiezik attributed this inadequacy as a likely factor contributing to the power outage in the Iberian Peninsula.
“Transmission system operators across continental Europe are convening a panel of experts to investigate the incident,” he explained. The interconnections with France and Morocco also played a crucial role in stabilizing the grid post-incident, highlighting that interlinking systems and dependable partners are vital for energy stability and security.
Wiezik underscored that aside from adequate storage capacity, implementing autonomous and hybrid systems could also mitigate power outages and their repercussions. These hybrid systems draw energy from both the public grid and their own production sources, enabling them to function independently and provide energy even during outages.
“The future is with renewable energy sources, and let’s face it—large-scale outages and incidents have occurred and continue to occur even during the days of dependable coal, gas, and nuclear energy,” the MEP asserted.
Monika Beňová (non-attached, Smer-SD) pointed out that the recent power outage caused significant disruptions, particularly in the transportation sector, leading to the suspension of trains, subways, and the failure of traffic signals.
“For years, energy experts have been warning about the instability of energy networks, primarily attributing it to the rapid and often poorly planned expansion of renewable energy use,” the MEP stated. She believes that the core issue lies in the ongoing instability of these energy sources, stressing that only traditional fossil fuels can guarantee stability, even as renewable sources increasingly replace them across many regions in Europe.
“Slovakia benefits from its energy mix, as a significant portion comes from nuclear power plants, which are regarded as stable sources. However, it is crucial to learn at the European level, particularly regarding the implementation of the European Green Deal goals. As they are currently promoted, they only heighten the risk of blackouts in other parts of Europe,” Beňová explained the situation. (May 8)
“The future is with renewable energy sources, and let’s face it—large-scale outages and incidents have occurred and continue to occur even during the days of dependable coal, gas, and nuclear energy.” Michal Wiezik
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