On 28 April last year, a massive power failure caused widespread chaos in Portugal and Spain, leaving people to dig out lanterns and old radios to get by. The blackout had a devastating impact on businesses, with many tonnes of meat in the processing stage having to be discarded at the Spanish meat processing firm Fribin.
Firms Rush to Invest in Battery Power Supplies
In the aftermath of the blackout, firms across Spain and Portugal are rushing to invest in battery power supplies to avoid similar disruptions in the future. According to the grid operator Red Eléctrica, battery storage capacity in Spain has risen almost sevenfold since last April, from about 28 MW before the blackout to 193MW in April 2026.
Companies such as Fribin and Vista Alegre, the oldest and largest porcelain maker in Portugal, are leading the charge in adopting battery storage systems. Fribin, which lost hundreds of thousands of euros during last year's blackout, has invested €1.5m (£1.3m; $1.7m) in a battery back-up system, funded in part by the European Union's Next Generation funds.
Advancing Technology and Increasing Demand
The demand for advanced battery capabilities, such as seamless backup, is also on the rise. Customers are now demanding more advanced capabilities, such as instant and seamless backup, which is particularly critical for sensitive environments such as hospitals and data centres. Battery suppliers are being pressed to meet increasingly shorter delivery dates, linked to EU funding programmes.
Companies like Sungrow are seeing an increase in demand for their products, with customers demanding more advanced capabilities. "We are seeing not only an increase in demand, but also a clear evolution in customer requirements," says Alberto Bodegas, from Sungrow. The company is working to meet the changing needs of its customers, with a focus on delivering products that meet the required specifications.
EU Funding and a New Era for Energy Storage
The European Union's funding programmes are playing a crucial role in driving the adoption of battery storage systems. In December, the IDAE, Spain's Institute for the Diversification and Saving of Energy, awarded €827m in EU funds to 133 energy storage projects totalling 2,400MW. Around 80% of that is battery storage, which will be close to 10 times the amount that Red Eléctrica currently registers on the Spanish grid.
The influx of EU funds is creating a new era for energy storage, with companies and organisations across Spain and Portugal taking action to secure their power supplies. The adoption of battery storage systems is not only a response to the threat of power cuts but also an opportunity for companies to profit from selling energy into the general network.
The experience of last year's blackout has served as a wake-up call for many businesses, with companies like Primus Ceramics, located near the city of Aveiro, in central Portugal, accelerating their plans to make their production process more resilient. By the end of this year, Primus will have more than double its battery capacity, to store more energy from the factory's solar panels.
Source: Joy Online
