Red Eléctrica de España increases industrial shutdowns to protect power grid

Red Eléctrica de España (REE) has significantly increased the use of the Active Demand Response System (SRAD) to maintain electrical grid stability. Since mid-July, the operator has activated this protection mechanism six times, nearly matching the total number of times it had been used in the previous four years combined.

The SRAD mechanism, established by the government during the previous energy crisis, allows for the forced shutdown of large industrial factories to rapidly reduce electricity consumption. This action is taken to prevent serious imbalances when electricity production is insufficient to meet planned demand or when reserve margins are threatened.

Triggers for these shutdowns include lower-than-expected renewable energy production, the unavailability of nuclear power plants, or changes in electricity interconnection flows with France. The primary goal of the system is to ensure the electricity market maintains sufficient energy reserves for adjustment services rather than specifically preventing large-scale blackouts.