Last year’s blackout on 28 April, which left both Portugal and Spain in darkness for hours, has sparked significant changes in how industries manage their power supply. This unprecedented power failure stalled production across many companies, prompting them to rethink their energy strategies to avoid future disruptions.
Fribin, a meat processing company in Binéfar, Spain, was in the middle of a shift when the power cut abruptly halted operations, leading to substantial financial losses. Andrés Altabás, the company’s director of technology and systems, emphasised the urgency to prioritise refrigeration, though production lines had to cease. The losses, amounting to hundreds of thousands of euros in wasted meat, highlighted the need for a robust backup plan.
Previously deterred by costs, Fribin decided to invest €1.5 million in battery systems after the blackout, funded partly by the European Union’s Next Generation funds. This investment marked a shift towards more sustainable energy solutions, mirroring a broader trend across Europe where firms have increasingly turned to electricity as a cleaner energy source. Yet, this transition has also increased vulnerability to power outages, as demonstrated by the blackout.
The Push for Energy Storage Solutions
On both sides of the Iberian Peninsula, the incident prompted businesses to adopt backup energy solutions. In Portugal, the impacts of Storm Kristin in January, which severed power and telecoms services for weeks, further accelerated this shift. Industrial sectors have been particularly motivated to develop storage systems to prevent sudden production halts, says Miguel Matias of Self Energy.
Significant investments in energy storage have followed the blackout. For instance, Spain’s battery storage capacity saw a sevenfold increase from April 2023 to April 2026, with plans for even more capacity supported by EU funds. The EU’s funds have strengthened the resolve of battery suppliers like Sungrow, who report growing demand and evolving customer expectations, pushing for near-instantaneous backup capabilities essential for critical environments like hospitals.
Industrial Response and Adaptation
Companies like Vista Alegre, the historic porcelain manufacturer in Portugal, moved quickly to install energy storage systems, facilitated by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Plan. Emilia Encarnação from Vista Alegre noted how the blackout spurred this advancement, enabling the company to mitigate sudden power losses and even sell surplus energy back to the grid.
Similarly, Primus Ceramics safeguarded its operations during last year’s blackout using a diesel generator. CEO Paulo Almeida shared how the experience prompted a strategic shift to enhance their energy resilience by increasing battery storage, using solar energy, and ensuring uninterrupted production through electric motor-powered kilns.
Both Vista Alegre and Primus Ceramics exemplify how industries are not only managing immediate risks but also capitalising on new opportunities in energy storage and sales, a testament to the lessons learned from the blackout.
Reporting based on coverage first published by bbc.co.uk.