Europe experienced two major blackouts in one month. First, Spain was plunged into darkness on 28 April. This was followed a few weeks later by an outage in south-eastern France. And blackouts are set to increase, experts say. Are we ready for them?
The blackout that hit the Iberian Peninsula, particularly Spain, at the end of April was the biggest in the country's history. The cause appears to have been extreme temperature fluctuations that damaged very high voltage lines. Renewable energy sources also played a significant role, covering almost 80 % of the transmission system load at the time of the outage.
Just a month later, southeastern France was without power. The Cannes Film Festival was also affected by the blackout. In this case, there is talk of sabotage - a power substation was on fire and someone cut the high-tension poles. Then you turn on the news and hear about chips in solar panels made in China that are capable of creating that dreaded grid surge.
Are we ready for the blackout?
It's not about scaremongering. Energy experts have been warning for years: aging infrastructure, grid outages, an overloaded system, geopolitical tensions, cyberattacks, or just a simple summer storm where fallen trees damage power lines. We don't know what's coming. But we do know that we can't rely on "someone up there." It's not about being prepared for the end of the world. It's a simple power outage. And having the peace of mind that we and our loved ones are taken care of at home.
Stoves that heat without power
When the lights go out, most households quit. No lights, no heat, no water. But you don't have to.
Stoves and wood-burning inserts work without a socket. Without pump. Without display. No "offline" message. The stove heats even without power. And more than that - we can boil water, dry wet clothes, thaw supplies. When it's freezing outside and the boiler's not running, it's not romantic, it's a nightmare. And you have a solution. This is not a return to the past. This is a healthy return to your roots, but in a modern way. Today's stoves can be eco-friendly, efficient and beautiful. No more black smoke. Just reliable heat you can operate with one hand.
Independence is worth more today than ever before
The modern wood stove is not a relic. They are reliable and technically proven devices that work even in conditions where the ubiquitous electronics fail. That's why it makes no sense to burden them with additional electricity-dependent elements - sensors, control units, mains-connected safety fuses.
In a power outage, we need it to work without compromise. And that's exactly what wood makes possible.
Responsibility is a choice
Wood stoves and inserts work for decades without complicated maintenance, without dependence on networks. Those who are prepared are not surprised.
And whoever has a stove at home has a certainty that no blackout or total blackout will threaten.
The article was written for the magazine Around the Stones
How to choose the right wood stove? Read in our article.
