Paralysis in Spain is simply a serious warning. Experts advise Poles: keep cash at home

The post-apocalyptic thriller script has late become a reality in Spain, 1 of the most modern countries in Europe. In just a fewer minutes, a powerful blackout plunged the country into chaos, revealing the fundamental weakness of modern civilization: full dependence on electricity and digital payments. Stopped trains, paralyzed subways, closed shops and grounded aircraft became the background for a shocking discovery – in a planet without electricity, payment cards and banking applications are worthless. The only rescue was physical cash.

This dramatic event is not an isolated case, and its causes are even more alarming than the effect itself. For Poland, a NATO front country, exposed to hybrid threats and besides undergoing an energy transformation, the Spanish lesson is an highly valuable, though frightening warning. Polish state experts and institutions, including the National Bank of Poland, have long stressed how crucial it is to prepare for a akin crisis. Having a supply of cash at home is no longer a manifestation of panic and becomes part of the rational management of household financial security.

Spanish Disaster: How excess green energy caused chaos

The first speculation on the causes of Spanish blackout pointed to cyber attack, which seemed to be a logical explanation of paralysis on specified a scale. However, the reality proved much more amazing and disturbing. According to a detailed method analysis, The country's energy strategy broke down due to excess energy produced from renewable sources.

There was an unprecedented situation in which the production of electricity from wind farms and solar panels exceeded 100% of national demand, while conventional power plants were inactive in operation in the system. This abrupt excess of power caused a abrupt and uncontrolled emergence in voltage in the transmission network. In response, automatic safety systems, protecting infrastructure against destruction, cut off power across the country, in the dark.

Energy manufacture experts inform that this script may be repeated in another European countries which invest aggressively in RES. Poland, which besides intensively develops wind and solar energy, faces the same challenge. The instability in the production of weather-dependent energy makes energy networks work at the limit of their capabilities, and the hazard of a akin strategy failure is becoming more real.

When a digital wallet becomes useless. European banks have already warned

The most severe effect of the blackout in Spain was the immediate paralysis of the financial system. At the time of the blackout, all payment terminals, ATMs and banking applications became useless. The younger generations, accustomed to paying with a smartphone and a card, with disbelief discovered that their digital money had ceased to exist. The only working means of payment was physical cash.

However, this event was not a surprise to attentive observers. For respective months now, financial institutions in another European countries have issued authoritative recommendations on the holding of cash. These were preventive measures to prepare citizens in the event of a breakdown of electronic systems.

• Dutch central bank He officially recommended families to keep a cash supply of between EUR 200 and 500 at home, which is adequate to cover basic needs for about a week.
• Swedish financial institutions recommended that citizens collect an equivalent of about 170 euro per person, with a proposition to increase this amount for families with children.

The Spanish crisis proved that these recommendations were not exaggerated. A fewer emergency ATMs were set up for miles, and only those with bills and coins could do the shopping.

Poland in the hazard zone? Voice of experts and institutions

Although the Polish energy strategy differs from Spanish, the hazard of blackout or cyber attack on critical infrastructure is very real. This is emphasized, among others, by Stanisław Wąątek from MON, pointing out the request to defend not only power plants, but besides gas-ports, water and data centres. However, it is the voice of the president of the NBP, Adam Glapiński, that is most awesome today. Already last year The head of the Polish central bank called for appreciation of the physical function of money, reminiscent of the February 2022 scenes, erstwhile after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Poles massed to ATMs.

Jakub Wiech, an energy safety expert at the energy service24.com, draws attention to a peculiarly dangerous scenario. There may be a situation where emergency power in stores will let cash registers to operate, but all banking infrastructure and payment systems will be offline. In specified a “partial blackout” without cash, we will buy absolutely nothing, even if the shops are open.

Poland, as a front country, is peculiarly susceptible to hybrid activities aimed at destabilising the state. The paralysis of the financial and energy strategy is 1 of the most effective ways to make panic and social chaos.

How to prepare for a crisis? applicable guide for all Pole

In the face of real threats, preparing for the crisis is simply a sign of responsibility. Financial safety experts propose that all Polish household should have a stock of cash. The recommended amount is from 500 to 1000 PLNwhich should be adequate for basic purchases for the first week of the crisis. In the case of multi-person families or people with medical needs, this amount should be higher, up to PLN 2000-3000 respectively.

When planning to pay, you should remember the limits:

• One-off limits at ATMs: Euronet allows you to pay up to 800 PLN and Planet Cash up to 1000 PLN per transaction.
• Daily limits on the card: They are determined by your bank and can scope from PLN 2,000 (default in Millennium) to up to PLN 50,000 (Santander). It is worth checking and possibly raising your limit in the banking application.

In addition to cash, it is crucial to prepare the basic endurance kit. It shall contain: supply of bottled water, long word food, first-aid kit with the essential medicines, battery or dynamo flashlights and charged power bank. Money should be stored in a safe, unobvious place at home, preferably in respective locations to minimize the hazard of theft.

Spanish blackout is simply a brutal reminder that our modern civilization is highly fragile. In a planet where everything can fail, physical cash remains the surest foundation of security. Its possession is not panic, but the simplest and cheapest insurance policy for uncertain times.