A massive power outage plunged Barcelona into darkness, stranding residents and tourists and halting public transport. Though the blackout lasted only a day, it raised serious concerns about the reliability of Spain’s energy infrastructure. Initial blame was misdirected at solar energy, but investigations revealed a mix of poor planning, human error, and insufficient voltage control. Experts highlighted underinvestment in the grid and suggested that battery storage and pumped hydro facilities could offer more resilience than expanding international connections. The incident exposed systemic weaknesses, prompting the government to consider reforms to ensure a more stable and modernized energy supply.

*This video summary was created by AI from the original DW script. It was edited by a journalist before publication.