Spanish technology already responding to blackouts: sensors, data, and real-time simulations

From one second to the next, our world stopped . Our immediate world, at least. The massive blackout that hit Spain on April 28th took homes, hospitals, businesses... even traffic lights... by surprise. Although the system operator, Red Eléctrica, is still investigating the causes , everything points to an imbalance between electricity demand and generation , in a context of growing penetration of renewable energy.

The restoration of power supply was uneven , starting in the north and south, leaving Madrid in the dark for longer periods. Some people had power and services restored within a few hours, while others had to wait until the next day .

What can we learn from such an event? In addition to the human lesson the blackout left us—the positive ones of those who went out to enjoy themselves with their loved ones and the negative ones of those who ransacked supermarkets without regard for their neighbors' needs—this moment, which will go down in history in Spain—yet another one—has left us with an extra layer of knowledge about the Spanish electricity grid .

But Twitter jokes (X) and bar-counter conversations aside, there are those in our country who are genuinely working on technological solutions to gain resilience . Libelium, a company specializing in technologies for critical infrastructure, tells us exclusively about an interesting program developed with Red Eléctrica that could help in a situation like a blackout . Not to prevent it, but at least to act more quickly.

Simulate failures to be prepared

One of the pillars for anticipating power outages like the one on April 28 is advanced scenario simulation, something already being implemented in Spain. " When something isn't prepared, it leaves room for improvisation ," warns José Antonio Cabo Valdés, a telecommunications engineer and head of critical infrastructure at Libelium.

We must understand that our country is "an energy island," as the expert describes it, since we are connected to Europe only through France. "That means that in a case like this, we can't receive rapid aid from other countries and must be self-sufficient," he asserts.

“That's why we use digital twins: they allow us to rehearse how we would respond to a power outage , just as pilots train with flight simulators.”

This type of solution not only allows you to predict what could go wrong, but also to evaluate your response capacity in real time and make more informed decisions if the network suffers a crisis .

More power without more cables: sensors to the rescue

One of the most advanced projects already being implemented in Spain is grid360, a solution developed by Libelium and integrated by Red Eléctrica. It involves a network of sensors deployed on high-voltage towers capable of monitoring variables such as wind, ambient temperature, and solar radiation . "This data allows us to know how much energy a power line can carry at any given time and increase its capacity without having to build new lines," explains Cabo.

The key is that the actual electricity transmission capacity depends, among other factors, on the temperature of the cable : the hotter it is, the lower its capacity. "If it's cold or windy, the cable cools better and can handle more energy. With precise environmental data, we can know if a line can carry 10%, 20%, or 30% more than usual , without risk," he summarizes. Cabo warns that, depending on the scenario, the improvement can even reach 50%.

What does this mean? As we'll explain now, this improvement allows the current infrastructure to transport more energy —for example, from renewable sources —without the need for additional lines . This represents a cost and time saving, as deploying new lines can take between 7 and 10 years.

“The blackout showed us—once again—that without data there is no control, and that what cannot be measured cannot be improved.”

Technology that lasts, even in blackouts

One of the system's highlights is that the sensors operate autonomously: they have solar panels and batteries , and they continue sending data even when there's a power outage. "During the April 28th blackout, our stations continued transmitting information . This allowed Red Eléctrica to know in real time which parts of the grid were ready to return to operation and make faster decisions," says the engineer.

In addition, the information they generate is integrated with the operator's systems , facilitating agile decisions based on accurate, local data, not generic estimates.

"Energy sovereignty also means data sovereignty, and only if we know in detail what is happening in each section of the network can we anticipate, correct, and react effectively."

A highway with invisible lanes

To understand how this technology works, Cabo uses a metaphor: “Imagine a highway with heavy traffic. If conditions allow, we can increase the number of lanes by using oncoming lanes or splitting a lane to greatly reduce congestion. That's what we do with the power grid: open invisible lanes when we know the environment allows it.”

It's not about squeezing the cables to the limit, but rather reducing the safety margins imposed due to a lack of information . "Thanks to real-time, local data, operators gain confidence to increase performance without compromising security," he asserts.

This “ energy split ,” as he describes it, allows for the maximum optimization of existing capacities , which is essential considering that building new lines can take up to a decade.

Where is this technology applied?

Although the exact locations cannot be revealed for security reasons, Cabo confirms that the system is already active on eleven power lines in Spain, especially in areas with a high concentration of renewable energy . He adds: “Spain is a pioneer in Europe in this type of solution. We are also seeing significant interest in Latin American countries and other European operators.”

Installation is not trivial: in mountainous areas or areas with high climate variability, more sensors are needed to ensure accurate readings. However, thanks to digital twins, it is not necessary to cover every kilometer with physical stations. Models allow data to be extrapolated and provide a complete view of the network status with fewer devices.

Critical infrastructure, maximum demand

Working with power grids requires meeting the highest security standards . Sensors must be immune to electromagnetic interference , operate under extreme conditions—such as snow or sub-zero temperatures—and integrate with the operator's decision-making systems. "Furthermore, everything must be protected against cyberattacks . Cybersecurity is one of the top priorities for operators," Cabo emphasizes.

Technologies like the one pioneered by Libelium not only help prevent failures, but also enable a faster and safer energy transition, making the most of existing infrastructure. And all this without the need to lay a single additional kilometer of cable .