Blackouts in Spain and Portugal Show the Need to Supercharge Grid Upgrades
More than $21 trillion must be invested in electricity networks to reach net zero by midcentury, yet nations are coming up short.
A pedestrian uses a flashlight to walk an unlit street in Ourense, Spain, during Monday’s blackout.
Photographer: Brais Lorenzo/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Welcome to our guide to the commodities markets powering the global economy. Today, Europe gas, power and renewables team leader Rachel Morison discusses how the blackouts in Spain and Portugal show that the grid isn’t ready for growing electricity demand.
Grid operators worldwide are desperate for details on what triggered this week’s massive blackouts in Spain and Portugal so they can evaluate if their own networks are at risk from the same issues.