Another blackout in Spain and Portugal? Here’s what’s happening and how to protect your home

News about the risk of a new blackout in Spain has returned to the headlines, bringing back memories of the power cut on April 28, 2025. That day, millions of people were left without electricity, and concern about a similar event happening again is once more front and center.

Recently, the system operator, Red Eléctrica (REE), requested urgent measures from the regulator (the CNMC) after detecting the same instability dynamics that preceded April’s collapse, which has again put citizens and media on alert.

Uncertainty about the robustness of the power system has raised a key question: are we really at risk?

This blog goes beyond the headlines to explain what is really happening with Spain’s electricity grid, why this risk exists and, most importantly, how you can prepare your home. We won’t just show you how to get through a potential blackout — we’ll show you how to maintain comfort and normality thanks to today’s technology.

What really happened during the April 28 blackout?

On April 28, 2025, an unprecedented blackout hit Spain, Portugal and parts of southern France, leaving 50 million people without electricity for hours. The event paralyzed essential services such as transport and communications. The cause was an “overvoltage cascade” and a general destabilization of the grid — a technical failure that spread rapidly across the interconnected system.

This collapse not only caused widespread chaos, it also exposed the vulnerability of an infrastructure we all depend on.

The alarm is sounding again: why is everyone talking about a blackout now?

Today’s concern didn’t come out of nowhere. The system operator has detected signals reminiscent of the situation prior to the great blackout, prompting a series of preventive actions.

Sudden voltage fluctuations

Red Eléctrica Española (REE), the entity responsible for managing the grid, has detected “sharp voltage variations” in the peninsular power system in recent weeks. Although these fluctuations remain within established safety limits, REE warns that, if not kept under control, they could “destabilize the power system” and trigger chain disconnections similar to those that caused the April blackout.

The real danger is not the size of the variation, but its speed. Changes that happen this quickly can be interpreted as a fault by the grid’s protection systems, setting off cascading disconnections. In light of this, REE has asked the National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) to approve urgent and temporary changes to its operating procedures to strengthen safety. It is this official alert that has led media outlets such as Euronews, the Financial Times, Reuters and most the national media outlets to cover the story extensively.

Basic preparation: the 72-hour survival kit

After the April blackout, the European Union reinforced its recommendation that all citizens have an emergency kit enabling them to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours.

• Drinking water: It is recommended to store a minimum of 5 liters per person.
• Non-perishable food: Canned goods, nuts, biscuits, or any product that doesn’t require cooking or refrigeration.
• Battery-powered radio: Essential to stay informed when communications networks fail.
• Flashlight, candles, and spare batteries: To guarantee lighting.
• Portable chargers (power banks): Essential to keep mobile phones and other devices charged.
• Cash: ATMs and electronic payment systems will stop working.
• First-aid kit: With basics such as band-aids, painkillers, and disinfectants.
• Essential medication: A sufficient supply of any regular medical treatment.
• Warm clothing and blankets: A power cut in cold periods can be especially difficult without heating.

The decisive solution: how to keep your home running with solar power

Beyond a basic survival kit, today’s solar technology offers a real solution to keep energy flowing in your home, giving you peace of mind and full autonomy.

Important clarification: It’s crucial to understand that a standard plug-in solar kit does not supply electricity during a general blackout. For safety reasons, the system automatically disconnects from the grid when it detects an outage. The goal is to protect technicians working on power lines by preventing the system from feeding energy into a network that is supposed to be de-energized.

The real key: batteries with “off-grid” mode

The way to achieve true energy independence during a blackout is to combine a solar installation with a battery that has a “backup/off-grid” mode or emergency output.

Here’s how it works: during the day, solar panels generate electricity. The energy you don’t use immediately is stored in the battery. If the grid goes down, the battery kicks in. Through a dedicated AC outlet, you can plug in your essential appliances and keep things running normally, using the solar energy you’ve stored.

This setup provides a genuine energy safety net. It’s not just about scraping by; it’s about maintaining a level of comfort and connectivity that makes all the difference. At Robinsun, we offer these solutions under the category “Off-grid (anti-blackout) batteries,” designed to give you that peace of mind.

What can you power? Real output for your essential devices

With a solar battery in backup mode, you won’t have to give up what matters most. You’ll be able to power the devices that ensure your safety, communication and well-being:

• Refrigerator: maintain the cold chain and avoid food waste.
• Internet: power your router and stay connected to the outside world.
• Lighting: plug in lamps to light your home.
• Device charging: keep your phones and laptops charged for emergencies.
• Small appliances: such as a radio or TV, coffee maker or microwave.
• Use a power strip to connect multiple devices at the same time — you can even plug in your microinverter solar kit and keep recharging your battery.

Our solutions, such as the Marstek Venus E 3.0 battery (5.12 kWh), can deliver up to 2,500 W in off-grid mode. Alongside other options like the Anker Solarbank 3 Pro, this gives you more than enough power to keep your essential devices running smoothly during a power cut.

Don’t fear the blackout — prepare for it

People now have more powerful tools than ever to achieve energy independence: solar energy combined with smart storage.

Investing in a solar solution with a backup battery means guaranteeing your family’s peace of mind, safety and comfort, whatever happens to the public grid. The technology already exists, it’s accessible, and it puts you in control. Is your home ready to be self-sufficient?

Get ready today for tomorrow’s blackout

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Explore our battery solutions with backup mode and secure your home’s energy supply no matter what.

🔗 Discover our anti-blackout batteries and secure your home’s energy.