Power across Spain and Portugal has been restored after the two countries were plunged into darkness.

As heads turn towards the reason behind the major outage, experts have suggested that net zero is to blame.

Although the current situation is being assessed and evaluated by a number of European authorities, some have speculated that Spain's reliance on solar and wind farms left the peninsula open to the possibility of such a crisis.

Reform deputy leader Richard Tice has said that the devastating crisis should serve as a warning to the UK if it opens itself up to net zero.

He said: "We need to know the exact causes but this should be seen as a wake-up call to the eco-zealots.

"Power grids need to operate within tight parameters to remain stable. Wind and solar outputs by contrast, vary hugely over long and short periods so they add risk to the system. The UK’s grid operators and our Government should take heed."

Spain declared a national emergency yesterday after the blackout brought the country on its knees. Its Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: "This is something that has never happened before."

The blackout stopped flights, battered public transport, hospitals and stores, wreaking absolute havoc all over the Iberian Peninsula.

Almost 61 per cent of Spain's power was restored last night to the Basque Country, Barcelona and Madrid.

“There could be a thousand and one causes, it’s premature to assess the cause,” said Joao Conceicao, who sits on the board of a Portugal’s grid operator REN.