The recent blackout that affected several European countries has raised alarms about the stability of the continental electricity system. Drawing on his academic and professional experience, engineer Nayeem Hossain offers a technical perspective on the challenges facing the European electricity grid in the face of increasing penetration of renewable sources.

“I don’t see a problem, I see a possibility,” says Hossain, referring to the energy transition. In his opinion, the biggest obstacle today lies in the lack of efficient storage to cover periods of low renewable generation. “Renewable energy is always intermittent. Availability is not the same all the time,” Hossain emphasized in an interview with Strategic Energy Europe.

Lack of storage and fossil fuel dependence

For Hossain, the recent incident highlights a critical point: the inadequacy of storage systems capable of buffering the variability of renewable sources. Despite the progress, the system still relies on fossil fuels as a backup. “We still rely on fossil fuels as a backup for renewable energy,” the specialist maintains.

The focus, he explains, must be on developing large-scale solutions. “We are working on batteries, how to improve and expand them, but also on alternatives such as pumped hydropower, which allow potential energy to be stored for later use,” he explains.
He also emphasizes that critical episodes like this “always push authorities to improve policies and infrastructure,” and highlights the role of the European Commission and local governments such as Spain, France, and Portugal.

Integration and diversification: keys to a stable grid

The European case shows that simply installing more renewable generation is not enough. According to Hossain, the system requires an intelligent diversification of technologies. “We cannot rely solely on wind, hydropower, or solar. We must diversify sources to ensure a continuous supply,” he suggests.

This diversification must be accompanied by mechanisms that take advantage of the characteristics of each region. “Ireland has one of the best wind resources in Europe. Norway has abundant hydroelectric power. In Bilbao, there are ocean currents of up to four meters that could be harnessed using tidal turbines,” he exemplifies.

In this regard, he highlights the resources of the Cantabrian Sea and the development of offshore wind farms, a technology he considers still in its maturation phase but with great potential. “The market is profitable even at this stage. Once the technology matures, it will be even more competitive and will help reduce the cost of electricity,” he explains.

Interconnection and Real-Time Data Processing

Europe currently has an interconnection capacity of up to 3,000 megawatts available for assistance between countries. However, for Hossain, the incident shows that there is still room to improve cross-border cooperation and the real-time exchange of critical information.

“We can move toward a common European data center that connects the entire electrical system, beyond national centers. This will allow information to be shared and ensure a more stable grid,” he suggests.

Furthermore, he maintains that these types of incidents should drive more efficient coordination between countries to strengthen interconnection and respond more quickly to outages.

Spain’s Response and the Role of Smart Infrastructure

One of the aspects Hossain highlighted most was the rapid response of the Spanish system to the blackout. “Here in Bilbao, the blackout occurred at 12:40 p.m., and by 4:00 p.m., we had power back on. Essential services, such as traffic lights and the public internet network, were restored in just two hours,” he notes.

This performance, in his opinion, reflects the previous work on smart infrastructure, with digital meters and automated alert systems. “The system has 27 alert levels. When an anomaly is detected, it is classified according to its criticality and automatically prioritized. That is remarkable,” he notes.

However, he is struck by the fact that, despite these resources, the exact cause of the blackout has not yet been officially identified. Hossain hypothesizes a desynchronization due to excess generation due to an unexpected drop in demand, which would have destabilized the frequency and triggered a domino effect.

Social Awareness and Long-Term Policies

Beyond technical issues, Hossain emphasizes the importance of strengthening social and technical awareness about clean energy. He points out as an example that “last month, for a few hours, the Spanish system operated solely on renewable energy, and that generated enthusiasm among the population.”

He also highlights educational programs funded by the European Union, such as Erasmus Mundus, which led him to study in Ireland, Spain, and Norway, focusing on the integration of marine renewable energy.

“There is a transformation underway, both in infrastructure and in the collective mindset. And events like this blackout, although unfortunate, serve as opportunities for learning and progress for the European electricity system,” Hossain concludes.