Power Outage in Portugal: What Happened on April 28, 2025?

On April 28, 2025, a massive power outage in Portugal, Spain, and parts of southern France left millions without electricity. This power outage in Portugal, which lasted for hours, marked one of the most significant blackouts in the Iberian Peninsula’s history. It affected transportation, communications, and daily life for nearly 60 million people. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the causes of the power outage in Portugal, how long it lasted, and the overall impact on the country.

What Caused the Power Outage in Portugal?

The power outage in Portugal, as well as in Spain and southern France, was triggered by a sudden failure in the electrical grid. At around 12:33 PM CEST (11:33 AM WEST), approximately 15,000 megawatts—about 60% of the active power generation in Spain—vanished from the grid.

This caused an imbalance that the system was unable to correct, leading to a cascading failure that affected both countries. While investigations are still ongoing, experts point to issues with the grid management in Spain’s Red Eléctrica de España (REE), which oversees the region’s power distribution (Reuters).

The high dependence on renewable energy, especially solar and wind power, has raised concerns about grid stability. While renewable sources are essential for sustainability, their intermittent nature makes them vulnerable to disruptions, such as the one experienced during the power outage in Portugal. As renewable energy continues to make up a more significant portion of the energy mix, grid management strategies must evolve to ensure stability during peak demand periods.

Is Power Back On in Portugal?

After several hours of outages, electricity was gradually restored across the Iberian Peninsula. By the evening of April 28, 2025, much of Spain’s power was back online, with approximately 35% of the country’s demand being met by 8:35 PM. By midnight, this figure had risen to 61%. Full restoration in Portugal and Spain continued throughout the night, with most areas regaining power by the morning of April 29, 2025. However, some regions took longer to fully stabilize (The Guardian).

Despite the restoration, the power outage in Portugal left lasting concerns about the resilience of the country’s electrical grid and its ability to handle future disruptions.

How Long Was Portugal Without Power?

The power outage in Portugal lasted for several hours, with the initial disruption occurring at approximately 12:33 PM. While power was gradually restored by the evening and night, some regions of Portugal faced power cuts for over 12 hours. The outages affected both urban and rural areas, causing widespread disruptions. Public services, transport, and financial institutions were all impacted. Many people were forced to adjust to the sudden loss of power, with some areas lacking electricity well into the following day (Le Monde).

The extended duration of the power outage in Portugal raised important questions about the country’s preparedness for large-scale energy disruptions.

Why Did the Power Suddenly Go Off in Portugal?

The power went off in Portugal suddenly due to a breakdown in the electrical grid system. As mentioned earlier, 15,000 megawatts of power were lost in just five seconds, leading to a massive imbalance in the grid. This disruption was triggered by a series of failures in Spain’s grid management, combined with a lack of sufficient backup power sources to restore balance.

The interconnection with France was automatically disconnected, further compounding the issue. The sudden nature of the power outage in Portugal caught many people off guard, and the ripple effects were felt throughout the country, from transportation delays to widespread financial transaction issues. The rapid loss of power demonstrates the vulnerability of modern electrical grids, especially when they are dependent on intermittent energy sources (Euronews).

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What Caused the Power Outage in Spain and Portugal?

The power outage in Spain and Portugal was primarily caused by a failure in Spain’s grid management system, although the specific details are still being examined. Reports suggest that a significant imbalance between electricity demand and supply triggered the collapse. Spain’s electrical grid operator, REE, failed to anticipate the drop in power generation, which led to the widespread blackout that affected both Spain and Portugal.

While renewable energy sources such as solar power and wind energy are crucial for the future, their volatility poses challenges for grid stability, especially when the demand spikes unexpectedly. The power outage in Portugal serves as a stark reminder of the need for a more robust and flexible energy infrastructure.

What Country Experiences the Most Power Outages?

Globally, countries like Papua New Guinea and parts of Africa experience the highest frequency of power outages, with some regions reporting over 500 interruptions annually. However, compared to these countries, Portugal and Spain have relatively stable power supplies. The April 28, 2025, power outage in Portugal was an exceptional event, highlighting the vulnerabilities in modern energy systems.

As Portugal and other European countries continue to transition toward renewable energy, it will be essential to address these challenges by enhancing grid management capabilities, increasing energy storage solutions, and improving infrastructure resilience (World Bank).

Conclusion: What Can We Learn from the Power Outage in Portugal?

The power outage in Portugal on April 28, 2025, highlights the importance of energy resilience and the challenges that come with integrating renewable energy sources into the grid. While the incident has raised concerns about grid stability, it also provides an opportunity for growth and improvement in energy management systems.

As Portugal continues to push for sustainability and clean energy solutions, it will need to invest in better grid infrastructure and innovative technologies like energy storage systems to prevent similar disruptions in the future. The lessons learned from this outage should serve as a wake-up call for both the energy sector and the general public about the need for robust energy planning and the importance of adaptability in the face of unforeseen challenges.

What Our Customers Say — And How to Prepare for the Next Power Outage in Portugal

Following the power outage in Portugal on April 28, 2025, we received dozens of messages from clients across the Algarve. Many of them shared stories about how their daily routines were interrupted — some couldn’t open electric gates, others lost Wi-Fi for hours, and several even had to throw out food that spoiled during the blackout.

Here are a few pieces of feedback we received:

Mark from Albufeira: “Luckily, our solar system with battery backup kept our house running. Our neighbors weren’t so lucky.”
Sophie in Lagos: “We were the only house in the street with electricity because of the new solar system with solar battery storage. Everything was dark expect our house, thanks again Voltaicos!
Hans from Loulé: “This blackout showed us how important energy independence really is. We’re already planning to expand our battery storage.”

These real stories show how a well-designed solar energy system with battery backup can make a major difference. If you already have solar panels but no storage, consider upgrading your system to include a hybrid inverter and battery. This will ensure that you remain energy-independent, even during national blackouts. Do you want to be protected for a next blackout?