A massive power outage that plunged large parts of Spain, Portugal, and even affected parts of France into darkness has left millions struggling without electricity, internet, and phone connectivity. The blackout, which began around midday on April 28, 2025, caused widespread chaos – halting metro and rail networks in major cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Lisbon, grounding flights, and forcing the suspension of events such as the Madrid Open tennis tournament.
Amid the communication blackout, a Spanish user took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express distress over the inability to contact family during a critical surgery. Responding swiftly, tech billionaire Elon Musk suggested a practical solution: “Tesla Powerwall plus Starlink should still work.” Musk’s recommendation highlights how Tesla’s home battery system combined with his satellite internet service Starlink could provide independent power and connectivity even when traditional grids fail.
Spain’s grid operator Red Eléctrica and Portugal’s REN immediately activated crisis committees, deployed backup generators at hospitals and airports, and coordinated with the European Commission and cybersecurity agencies to investigate the cause. While authorities have not ruled out any possibilities, including cyberattacks, European Commission Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera emphasized there is currently no evidence of sabotage or hacking. The blackout was reportedly triggered by a sudden 15 GW drop in electricity generation within seconds, affecting 60% of Spain’s demand and cascading into Portugal’s grid. Extreme temperature variations and grid instability are among the suspected causes. The outage left millions without water, disrupted traffic signals, and forced emergency services to operate on backup power. Spain declared a state of emergency in several regions, including Madrid and Andalusia.As power gradually returns, the incident underscores vulnerabilities in Europe’s aging grid infrastructure and raises concerns about preparedness for future disruptions. Musk’s Starlink and Powerwall combination offers a glimpse into how decentralized, resilient technologies could serve as critical lifelines during such crises, providing independent electricity and internet access when conventional systems falter.