New regulation gives solar and wind plants more grid responsibility
Spain’s competition and energy watchdog announced on Thursday that it has updated long-standing voltage control rules to allow renewable energy plants—such as wind and solar—to play a larger role in maintaining grid stability. The move marks a significant shift from the current system, where only conventional plants were tasked with grid voltage regulation.
The reform follows an investigation into the April 28 blackout that affected millions across Spain and Portugal. The government probe concluded that a voltage surge was the immediate cause of the disruption. The new framework, approved last week, was one of the measures recommended in the government’s official report.
Modernizing decades-old grid protocols
The revised rules replace regulatory provisions that were over 25 years old. Until now, only coal, gas, nuclear, and hydroelectric plants were authorized to provide voltage control. The change allows solar and wind facilities to contribute actively to grid stability, aligning renewable infrastructure with evolving energy needs.
“This provides homogeneous treatment to the service offered by both renewable and conventional generation facilities,” the watchdog said in a statement.
Response to blackout and regulatory criticism
The blackout has sparked debate between the government and grid operator REE. The government blamed both REE—for miscalculating the energy mix—and certain power producers that failed to maintain voltage levels. REE, in contrast, placed full responsibility on the generators. The updated rules are based on a 2021 proposal originally submitted by REE.
The inclusion of renewables in voltage regulation aims to create a more flexible and resilient grid as Spain accelerates its transition toward clean energy. It also addresses systemic weaknesses exposed by the April outage.
Implications for future grid planning
With renewable energy accounting for an increasing share of electricity generation, the rule change ensures that these sources can also shoulder grid reliability duties. It signals a broader effort to modernize energy policy in response to both technical challenges and climate goals.
