Faced with one of the largest blackouts in Europe’s history, which paralyzed the Iberian Peninsula and revealed the weaknesses of unstable energy sources, Poland is clearly demonstrating that energy security and digital development can go hand in hand with an ambitious, pragmatic transformation. By investing billions of euros in modern nuclear energy and SMR technologies, our country is building a solid foundation for the development of data centers, innovation, and modern digital services. In this way, we are already becoming a model for the region in how to effectively combine green transformation with technological rationality and ensure stability for the 21st-century economy.

Blackout-Resistant Data Centers

At the end of April, Europe experienced one of the most serious blackouts in recent years, affecting nearly the entire Iberian Peninsula. The power outage lasted more than a day and impacted millions of people in Spain and Portugal. Disruptions to electricity supply paralyzed many public services and economic activities in the region.

An analysis of the causes points to a complex sequence of events with no single, clear cause. The Iberian Peninsula’s power system relied heavily on renewable energy sources, mainly photovoltaics, which at the time of the failure accounted for over half of electricity production. Within seconds, the system lost up to 15 GW of capacity—according to the operator REE, the cause was the automatic disconnection of large generation blocks, likely photovoltaic installations in southwestern Spain, triggered by protective systems in response to unspecified system disturbances. This caused serious network instability, and automatic safety systems disconnected the Peninsula from the rest of the European grid (France), which deepened the crisis and resulted in a loss of synchronization and the shutdown of other energy sources. Official reports emphasize that the blackout resulted from a chain of events: mass automatic disconnections of renewable generation, lack of sufficient flexibility reserves, and very limited interconnections with other countries. The investigation into the exact causes is ongoing, with no single factor identified as solely responsible.

The effects of the outage were felt on many levels. Residents were deprived of basic daily conveniences—lighting, elevators, heating and cooling systems, as well as ATMs and payment terminals stopped working. Public transportation was paralyzed, and local shops and businesses had to temporarily suspend operations. An additional problem was the interruption of digital services—telephony and the internet were down for some time, which in a digital economy led to measurable financial and operational losses.

However, key sectors such as data centers coped best with the crisis. Thanks to extensive backup power systems—mainly generators and battery units—data centers maintained operational continuity even during the peak of the crisis. Professional management of power systems ensured that the most important digital services, on which many industries and institutions depend, remained largely uninterrupted.

A Catalyst for Change in Energy

The energy crisis revealed how critical uninterrupted power supply is for the functioning of modern economies and societies. It is no surprise that the blackout became a trigger for changing the approach to energy security among the public and policymakers across Europe. There is growing doubt about the belief that a fast energy transition based mainly on renewables is sufficient to ensure system stability. Increasing digitalization and growing energy demands—especially in the data center and high-tech sectors—highlight the importance of investing in reliable, dependable energy sources while maintaining decarbonization goals.

This shift in attitude is evident in Germany and Switzerland. Germany had pursued a gradual nuclear phase-out, culminating in the shutdown of its last three reactors in 2023. However, just two years later, in the face of an energy crisis, rising energy prices, and increasing concerns about system security, the new government announced a reversal of this policy. Chancellor Friedrich Merz not only openly criticized the decision to abandon nuclear power but also announced investments in new technologies, especially Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which are expected to provide a stable, low-emission energy source for the modern digital economy.

A similar shift is visible in Switzerland, where a ban on building new nuclear power plants had been in place since 2018. In 2024, responding to growing social and economic concerns about energy security, the government decided to lift the ban and announced plans to implement SMR projects. These new, more flexible and scalable technologies aim not only to enhance energy security but also to support the development of sectors such as data centers and high-tech industries.

“More and more often, politicians and experts around the world are discussing a return to nuclear power. The belief is spreading that stability and predictability of energy supply are the foundation of a digital economy, and investment in modern nuclear solutions—including SMRs—is a key tool to achieve this goal. Interest in these technologies is also growing in the business world: global tech giants like Google, AWS, and Microsoft are signing contracts for electricity from new, low-emission reactors, seeing them as a guarantee of operational continuity and competitive advantage,” comments Piotr Kowalski, Managing Director of the Polish Data Center Association.

Poland’s Response to the 21st-Century Energy Challenge

In the European discussion about the future of energy, Poland stands out as a country consistently implementing real, long-term solutions that address the key challenges of the modern economy. A significant element of this strategy is a €15 billion investment in a nuclear power plant with a capacity of 6–9 GW in the north of the country. Such a large project will not only significantly reduce emissions in Poland’s energy sector but, most importantly, will ensure stable power supply—regardless of weather fluctuations or the irregularity of renewable generation.

Poland is also advancing work on the development of SMRs, led by private entities—especially through the cooperation between Synthos and Orlen. These innovative, scalable technologies may in the future meet growing market demands, particularly in the context of data center expansion. For this sector, reliable, predictable, and low-emission power sources are crucial. If implemented, SMRs could be located closer to industrial consumers, offering greater energy independence and lower transmission costs. This trend aligns with the global shift toward diversification and decentralization of energy systems.

This well-thought-out strategy provides Poland with a strong foundation for expanding modern digital infrastructure. Both investments in large-scale nuclear energy and the development of SMRs are guarantees of energy security and the maintenance of competitiveness in a digital reality. Stable, low-emission energy sources are key to attracting more investment in data centers, growing the tech sector, and deploying advanced solutions such as artificial intelligence and cloud technologies.

“The lesson from the recent Iberian blackout is clear: the transformation of the energy sector cannot come at the expense of technical rationality. Thorough analysis, transparent network management, and a balanced energy mix that ensures base load availability—including SMRs—are crucial. In the era of dynamic growth of data centers, AI, and cloud services, the reliability of the national power system is the backbone of a modern economy. It is therefore encouraging that Poland, combining pragmatism with climate ambition, is emerging as a leader in innovative, crisis-resilient energy and digital transformation in this part of Europe. We are a model for other countries seeking the golden mean between economic growth, security, and environmental responsibility,” says Piotr Kowalski.

The situation on the Iberian Peninsula clearly showed Europe how important it is to maintain a balance between the rapid development of renewables and investments in predictable and stable technologies such as nuclear energy. It is a reminder that even the most ambitious climate goals should not overshadow the necessity of ensuring continuous power supply—especially in the face of rapidly growing digital needs.

(WBJ)