More than 25 data center operators confirm full operational capacity during the power outage affecting the entire Iberian Peninsula
Despite the widespread impact of the power outage that occurred on April 28, leaving all of Spain and Portugal without power for several hours, the data center sector in Spain has demonstrated a level of resilience and exemplary preparedness. According to various industry sources, the backup systems operated successfully, ensuring service continuity and operational security at 100% in numerous data centers across the country.
The SPAINDC association, which comprises the main operators in the country, has confirmed that “the data centers located in Spain did not report any significant incidents during the power supply interruption.” According to information gathered by the association, generators and UPS systems (uninterruptible power supply systems) functioned as expected in contingency plans, ensuring both energy stability and the integrity of hosted services.
A List of Public Resilience
While it is likely that more centers overcame the incident without issues, here is the list of operators that have publicly communicated their resilience and operational status during the outage, according to publications verified by two specialized outlets: DatacenterDynamics and the Spanish Data Centers Observatory.
Cited by DatacenterDynamics in their article “Chronicle of an Unannounced Blackout”:
- Grupo Aire
- Walhalla
- NIXVAL
- Data4 Group
- Global Switch
- MERLIN Properties Edged
- Equinix
- Iron Mountain
- ASAC
- Nabiax
Cited by the Spanish Data Centers Observatory in individual publications:
In addition to the above, the following have been included:
- ipcore
- Digital Realty
- NUNSYS
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- COS Global Services
- TITÁN CPD
- Arsys
- Evolutio
- KIO España
- AspaCloud DataCenter
- Oxigen Data Center
- Templus
This group represents a cross-section of the Spanish data center ecosystem, ranging from global giants like AWS and Equinix to regional and local operators firmly rooted in the country.
Redundancy and Planning: Key Factors in Critical Situations
Operators have highlighted that backup systems—generators, UPS, transfer automation, and emergency protocols—were activated automatically upon detecting the loss of electrical voltage, as dictated by continuity business procedures.
Moreover, the success of the operation was not only due to the installed technology but also to the ability of human teams to monitor and validate the transition without errors. Some centers operated in “island” mode for several hours, without affecting the established SLAs (service level agreements) with their clients.
A Test Passed with Distinction
This episode represents the largest stress test in years for critical digital infrastructure in Spain. The rapid and effective response from the sector cements its role as a fundamental pillar of the digital economy, not only due to its capacity for uninterrupted operation but also for its transparency in openly communicating its performance during a crisis.
“This incident has reinforced the perception that the data center ecosystem in Spain is prepared for emergencies. The data reinforces the confidence of current and future clients,” states SPAINDC.
Conclusion
The blackout of April 28 has become a case study in resilience for critical infrastructure. The response of Spanish data centers has not only been efficient but also serves as a benchmark for the sector at the European level in times of energy transition, accelerated electrification, and cybersecurity.
Spain is not only consolidating its position as a digital hub for Southern Europe but also as an example of operational reliability in extreme events.
References: LinkedIN and Spanish Data Centers Observatory