Iberian firms rush to install battery backups after 2025 blackout

A widespread power cut in April 2025 plunged Spain and Portugal into darkness, halting operations at plants such as the meat processor Fribin, which lost hundreds of thousands of euros in spoiled product. The incident accelerated the company’s plan to install battery backup, leading to the purchase of two 5 MWh modules in 2025 and 2026 for around €1.5 million, supported by EU Next Generation funding. Across the region, industrial users are turning to large-scale storage; Spain’s grid operator reports battery capacity rising from about 28 MW before the blackout to 193 MW in April 2026, while the Institute for the Diversification and Saving of Energy allocated €827 million to 133 storage projects, 80 % of which are battery-based.

Battery suppliers note a shift toward seamless, instant switching solutions demanded by sensitive sites like hospitals and data centres, with delivery timelines tightened by EU funding deadlines. Portuguese firms such as Vista Alegre and Primus Ceramics have also expanded storage, using batteries to both safeguard production and sell surplus power back to the grid. The surge reflects broader European moves to replace fossil-fuel generation with electricity, a transition that, while cutting emissions, heightens exposure to grid interruptions.