Background and Development of the Blackout Incident
The recent large-scale blackout in Spain and Portugal was a shocking event where 60% of electricity production disappeared in just 5 seconds. Thanks to typically sunny weather and abundant sunshine, Spain is a country where renewable energy, especially solar power, accounts for a large portion of its electricity. However, the sudden loss of power generation at a solar power plant in the Extremadura region on this day led to instability throughout the power grid, resulting in a nationwide blackout in Spain. This incident is a problem that can have a significant impact on the economy and energy transition policies, teaching the lesson that it is important to balance stable power grid operation with the introduction of renewable energy.
Characteristics of Renewable Energy and Solar Power Generation
Renewable energy sources such as solar power allow us to dream of an environmentally friendly and sustainable energy future, but the technical vulnerability of "lack of inertia" revealed in this incident is a major problem. Existing thermal, nuclear, and hydroelectric power plants can maintain inertia for a certain period of time thanks to the rotational movement of turbines, allowing them to respond to sudden blackouts. On the other hand, solar power generates electricity through inverters, which have the disadvantage of cutting off the power supply within milliseconds of an accident due to the lack of inertia. This aspect reacts sensitively to sudden load changes in the power grid, which can undermine the stability of the entire power system.
Power Grid Protection System and Necessary Countermeasures
Balancing electricity production and consumption is a matter directly related to the national economy and the lives of the people. As seen in the Spanish blackout, the sudden failure of generators led to the collapse of the entire system below the power grid. In preparation for such incidents, power grid protection systems, such as automated control systems like "partial power outages," must be activated in a timely manner. In order to compensate for Korea's renewable energy generation ratio, which remains at 9.64%, it is urgent to invest in technical improvements such as power grid protection facilities and the LVRT (Low Voltage Ride Through) function of inverters.
Energy Transition, Economy, and Investment
Expanding renewable energy and energy transition policies have a huge impact on the economy as a whole, going beyond just environmental issues. This incident provides an opportunity to think about various economic-related SEO keywords such as the economy related to the power grid, renewable energy investment, solar power generation, energy transition, and policy measures. Without continuous investment and system updates to the power grid, energy transition can only act as an economic burden. Ultimately, it is essential for the government and related organizations to clearly explain the cost burden structure to the public and businesses and to make systematic investments to build a stable power grid.
Conclusion: Preparing for a Balanced Energy Future
This Spanish blackout clearly revealed the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy, especially solar power. A balance between existing power generation technologies and new renewable energy technologies is needed to stabilize the power grid, and an approach from an economic and investment perspective is also important. It seems that not sparing investment in the overall power grid in the future and establishing the right policy direction for energy transition is a task that we must all prepare for.
*Source URL:
https://www.donga.com/news/Economy/article/all/20250502/131534240/1
Leave a Reply