What Australia can learn from the Spain and Portugal power outage

A major power outage recently affected large parts of Spain, Portugal, and even parts of France. While the exact cause is still under investigation, this incident serves as a reminder that even advanced energy systems can fail - and that Australia must learn from it to protect its own electricity supply.

Why the outage matters

The blackout in southern Europe brought transport, communication systems, and essential services to a halt. It was likely caused by instability in the energy grid, possibly linked to weather patterns or sudden changes in electricity flow.

Whatever the exact cause, the result was the same: people were left without power, highlighting the need for stronger, more resilient grid systems.

Australia, like Spain and Portugal, is increasing its use of renewable energy. Solar and wind power are playing a bigger role in the nation’s energy mix, especially in states like South Australia and Victoria. While this is a good step towards reducing carbon emissions, it also brings new challenges for keeping the power grid stable.

Lessons for Australia’s energy sector

The main lesson from the European blackout is that energy grids must keep up with the growth of renewable energy. It’s not enough to build more solar farms and wind turbines - we also need to improve the infrastructure that delivers this power to homes and businesses.

A well-balanced energy grid needs to handle sudden changes in electricity supply and demand. If there is too much or too little power at any one time, parts of the system can shut down to prevent damage. This can lead to wide-scale blackouts, as we’ve seen in Europe - and in Australia too.

Australian storms and outages

Australia is no stranger to power outages caused by extreme weather. In 2016, a powerful storm in South Australia caused a state-wide blackout.

More recently, floods and bushfires have disrupted power to thousands of homes. These events show how vulnerable the grid can be, especially in remote or rural areas.

To reduce the risk of future blackouts, Australia needs to invest in smarter and stronger grid systems. This includes:

  • Upgrading power lines and substations to handle modern energy loads
  • Building more energy storage systems, like big batteries, to store excess renewable power
  • Creating better backup systems for emergencies and unexpected weather events
  • Improving grid connections between states to allow power to be shared more easily during high demand or outages

Is Australia ready for the future?

Australia’s energy future is heading toward cleaner, more sustainable sources - but that progress must be matched with reliable infrastructure. The European blackout shows that without enough investment in the energy grid, even countries with lots of renewables can experience large-scale problems.

Now is the time to take action. Governments and energy providers in Australia should work together to strengthen the electricity network, improve emergency response systems, and support regional areas that are more exposed to outages.

Make sure your energy is reliable

If you want to ensure you're getting the most reliable energy plan available in your area, it’s worth reviewing your options.

Contact Compare Energy today on 1300 790 106 to check which gas and electricity plans are available near you - and make sure your home or business is prepared for the future.