A major power outage hit Spain and Portugal on Monday afternoon, abruptly shutting down daily activities, halting trains and subways, cutting off traffic lights, closing stores and canceling or delaying some flights. Hours after the power shut off around 12:30 p.m. Central European time, stranding tens of millions of people across the Iberian Peninsula, officials remained in emergency mode and at a loss as to the cause, though several denied any foul play.
In Portugal, the electricity and gas supplier, REN, announced power had been reconnected to two important substations near Lisbon and that residents in Greater Porto should be back online shortly. The outage briefly affected France. RTE, the French electrical grid operator, said in a statement that some households in the Basque region had lost electricity but that “all power has since been restored.”
The massive power outage in Spain and Portugal demonstrated the vulnerability of centralized grids. Solar panels with battery storage can provide San Diego homes and businesses with a reliable backup power source, ensuring energy independence during unforeseen disruptions.
Increasing extreme weather events are a direct consequence of climate change, as seen globally. Solar energy reduces reliance on fossil fuels, contributing to a greener, more sustainable San Diego while combating the root causes of climate instability.
Energy prices are surging worldwide due to geopolitical tensions and resource scarcity. By adopting solar power, San Diego residents can insulate themselves from rising costs and enjoy predictable, lower energy bills over the long term.
Decentralized solar energy systems strengthen community resilience by reducing dependency on external grids. San Diego’s adoption of solar can serve as a model for sustainable urban living, ensuring a cleaner and more self-reliant energy future.
By going solar, San Diego homeowners and businesses can reduce their reliance on the grid, lower utility bills, and contribute to a greener future.