Zero: The Climate Race The 100-ton device that can stop blackouts in the renewables era: Bottlenecks Series
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Aug 21, 2025 Laura Millan, a Bloomberg Green journalist based in Madrid, recounts her firsthand experience of the recent nationwide blackout in Spain. She discusses how this event raised questions about solar power's reliability amid the renewable energy surge. Key topics include the vital role of synchronous compensators in stabilizing grids and the promise of smart inverters that enhance system resilience. Millan emphasizes the pressing need for technological advancements and infrastructure investments to prevent future blackouts as we transition to greener energy sources.
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On-The-Ground Experience During Spain Blackout
- Laura Millan describes the April nationwide blackout in Spain and how she learned it was countrywide from colleagues and texts.
- She recounts practical disruptions like trapped commuters and district-by-district power restorations that lasted until late night.
Chain Reaction Caused The Blackout
- Investigations found solar farms disconnected then gas plants couldn't start fast enough, triggering cascading disconnections and a nationwide blackout.
- Investigators recommended more synchronous compensators and grid-forming inverters to manage voltage instability.
Why Spinning Matters For Grid Stability
- Traditional grids rely on spinning turbines to provide stable 50 Hz AC and inertia, which renewables lack because they don't spin.
- Synchronous compensators replicate that spinning inertia without burning fuel by continuously spinning heavy rotors.