SUPERCAPACITORS FOR
EUROPEAN GRID STABILITY
24/07/2025
Can Supercapacitors keep Europe’s Grid Stable?
Iberian Blackout: Understanding what happened
On April 28, 2025, Spain and Portugal experienced a widespread blackout that severely impacted major cities and infrastructure. The outage was triggered by the sudden loss of 2.2 gigawatts of power generation following failures at substations in Granada, Seville, and Badajoz. While initial speculation pointed to a cyberattack, investigations have since shifted toward the vulnerability of renewable energy sources—particularly wind and solar farms—which may lack adequate grid protection systems.
What is certain is that a critical factor contributing to the blackout was the low inertia of the power grid.
Inertia, in an energy system, refers to its ability to resist sudden frequency deviations and stabilize the grid during unforeseen disturbances. Traditional thermal and hydroelectric power plants provide inertia through large rotating machinery (such as turbines). In contrast, renewable sources like solar and wind do not inherently contribute to grid inertia, making the system more susceptible to frequency instability and cascading failures.
Supercapacitors: Strengthening Europe’s Power Grid
One promising solution to address this issue is the integration of supercapacitors, energy storage devices capable of delivering rapid bursts of power, making them ideal for stabilizing grid frequency during transient events.
By providing synthetic inertia, supercapacitors can mimic the stabilizing effects of traditional rotating machines, thereby enhancing the grid’s ability to withstand sudden disturbances .
Incorporating supercapacitors into the Iberian grid could improve its resilience, especially as the region continues to increase its reliance on renewable energy sources.
The April 2025 blackout in Spain and Portugal highlighted significant vulnerabilities in the European power grid, underscoring the need for modernization and diversification of energy infrastructure. Integrating technologies like supercapacitors can play a pivotal role in enhancing grid stability, ensuring a reliable power supply to the European continent as it progresses toward a more sustainable energy future.
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