The 2025 European Blackout: Grid Fragility, Renewables, and Lessons for the Middle East

On April 28 2025, Europe experienced one of its most disruptive technological collapses in modern history. A sudden, cascading failure of the power grid cut off electricity all over Spain, Portugal, parts of France, Germany, and Italy, immobilising vital infrastructure such metro systems, airports, hospitals, and telecommunications. Spain alone suffered an unmatched 15 GW loss in five seconds, reducing roughly 60% of its power need. Emergency states were declared; recovery, albeit quick in some areas, revealed systematic weaknesses in the European energy framework that resonate far outside the continent.

The themes and ideas discussed here are based on speeches, sessions and discussions that took place at the "Think Tanks and Their Communities" conference co-hosted by On Think Tanks (OTT) and Fundació Bofill in Barcelona, Spain (May 21-23, 2024). The conference addressed the evolving role of think tanks in a complex and dynamic global landscape, emphasizing the importance of adaptation and community engagement for effective policy impact.