Spain's electricity blackout: Red Eléctrica president addresses concerns

Beatriz Corredor, president of Red Eléctrica (REE), took nearly 48 hours to provide explanations regarding the significant blackout that occurred on Monday, despite her role overseeing the company responsible for energy transport and distribution in Spain. However, she chose to speak not in front of the press, but rather on a government-aligned radio station, Cadena Ser, which had appointed her to her position. During the interview, she claimed that the cause of the blackout is "more or less determined" and firmly stated that she has no intention of resigning.

Corredor emphasized that it is "not correct" to link the substantial integration of renewable energy sources in the electrical system with the blackout that struck the Iberian Peninsula last Monday, even though the explanations provided by REE’s operations director, Eduardo Prieto, pointed in that direction.

In the interview, she asserted that the participation of renewables in the generation mix is secure, noting that the high penetration of these technologies in Spain's electrical system has been commonplace. "We have operated the system under high renewable penetration conditions for several years, and on Monday, there were no unusual circumstances," she stated.

While Corredor mentioned that Red Eléctrica has "more or less localized" the cause of the blackout, she requested data from the 35 control centers managing the electrical distribution network, which gather information from generation plants.

When questioned about her potential resignation, Corredor dismissed the idea, arguing that the company has "responded at the level expected" of her. "I believe I am taking responsibility appropriately, and it is not my style to avoid accountability," she asserted. "If I were aware of any action I could have taken or something I did wrong, I would be the first to bring it up. However, we have worked well in this company," she defended.

Confident that a repeat of Monday's events is unlikely, Corredor stated that they have learned from the incident and implemented all necessary safety measures to prevent a recurrence.

Despite the massive incident, the executive reaffirmed her belief that Spain's electrical system is "the best in Europe." Although Redeia, the parent company of Red Eléctrica, has not identified any preliminary signs of a cyberattack, it has granted "physical" access to the National Cybersecurity Institute (Incibe) and the National Center for Critical Infrastructure Protection (Cnpic) to conduct a thorough technical investigation. The aim is to eliminate any possibility that an external element may have infiltrated the system or the systems of external distributors. "Ultimately, it was the electrical system that failed, and I believe that all of us involved in the electrical system must take responsibility as it pertains to us," she added, referring to the energy sector.