Large-scale power outage in Europe exposes grid vulnerabilities; Reduction or cessation of U.S. energy imports does not affect China's energy supply
（2025/04/28—2025/05/04）
Author：Hao-Wang
International Energy News
1. Power outage in spain and portugal exposes fragility of european grid
On April 28, a massive power outage struck Spain and Portugal, impacting over 50 million people across the Iberian Peninsula and paralyzing critical systems in transportation, communications, and healthcare, with brief disruptions also reported in southern France. Power was gradually restored after approximately 10 hours. The outage caused flight delays, train suspensions, communication breakdowns, and halted the Madrid Open tennis tournament. Panic buying erupted in multiple regions, prompting supermarkets to impose purchase limits and cash-only transactions. Spain declared a national emergency and activated a Level III emergency response. The scale of the outage and challenges in recovery mark it as one of Europe’s most severe electricity crises in the past 20 years. The incident is currently under investigation. While superficially it appears to stem from an incidental transmission line failure, it has exposed multiple vulnerabilities in the European power system regarding cross-border interconnection, green transition, and emergency response mechanisms.
2. Ireland launches national offshore renewable energy plan
On April 29, Ireland's RTE News reported that the country aims to develop new offshore wind farms capable of generating 5 gigawatts (GW) of electricity by 2030, marking the fourth-largest offshore wind expansion plan in the EU, trailing only Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark. The offshore wind sector holds vast potential, with projections indicating the creation of tens of thousands of new jobs and billions of euros in fresh investment opportunities. Estimates suggest that by 2040, offshore wind could add 60,000 additional full-time jobs, equating to an average of approximately 8,600 full-time positions annually. By 2050, the offshore wind industry is projected to contribute €38 billion in economic value to Ireland.
3. U.S. and Ukraine sign a mineral agreement
On April 30, the United States and Ukraine formally signed the "U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund Establishment Agreement." Under the agreement, the U.S. will secure priority access rights to Ukraine’s new round of mineral investment projects, covering critical strategic resources such as aluminum, graphite, oil, and natural gas. The fund will focus on rebuilding Ukraine and revitalizing its economy, while Ukraine will retain control over its mineral resources and exempt taxes and tariffs for both nations involved.
Domestic Energy News
1. National Development and Reform Commission: Reduction or cessation of U.S. energy imports will not affect domestic supply
On April 28, China’s State Council Information Office stated at a press conference that the country has established a robust energy supply system driven by coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear power, and renewable energy, with energy self-sufficiency maintained above 80%. Annual crude oil production remains stable at over 200 million metric tons, while natural gas output has increased by more than 10 billion cubic meters annually for eight consecutive years. Coal reserves and production capacity are abundant, and renewable energy installed capacity now accounts for nearly 60% of the total power generation capacity. The energy reserve system has been significantly strengthened, ensuring ample domestic supply and stable market prices. Officials emphasized that reducing or halting energy imports from the United States will have no impact on China’s energy security.
2. National Development and Reform Commission and National Energy Administration Issue "Basic Rules for Electricity Ancillary Services Market"
On April 29, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration (NEA) jointly released the "Basic Rules for Electricity Ancillary Services Market." The document outlines five key measures: clarifying the scope of market entities in ancillary services; standardizing the establishment process for ancillary service trading products; refining the cost transmission mechanism for ancillary services; defining coordination mechanisms with the electricity energy market; and clarifying the responsibilities of electricity market operators. The aim is to further improve the pricing mechanism for ancillary services, thereby forming, together with the "Basic Rules for Medium- and Long-Term Electricity Trading" and the "Basic Rules for Electricity Spot Market (Trial)," the three primary trading frameworks under China’s unified national electricity market. This marks the fundamental establishment of top-level regulatory designs for these three core trading categories.
3. National Energy Administration: China's Hydrogen Energy Production and Consumption Scale Ranks First Globally in 2024
On April 30, the National Energy Administration (NEA) released the China Hydrogen Energy Development Report (2025) . The report indicates that in 2024, China's annual hydrogen production and consumption exceeded 36.5 million tons, securing the top position worldwide. By the end of 2024, the cumulative installed capacity of global renewable energy-based hydrogen production projects surpassed 250,000 tons per year, with China contributing over 50% of this total, solidifying its role as a leading force in renewable hydrogen production and related industries. Notably, domestic fuel cell vehicle demonstrations have progressed steadily, with over 540 hydrogen refueling stations built nationwide and approximately 24,000 fuel cell vehicles deployed. Five key regions—Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Shanghai, Guangdong, Zhengzhou, and Hebei—have cumulatively promoted over 15,000 fuel cell vehicles, underscoring China’s accelerating transition to a hydrogen-powered economy.
(Main news sources: CCTVNEWS APP, Xinhua New Media, International Energy Network, China Energy Network, National Energy Administration)
