Benidorm, like the rest of Spain, was plunged into darkness by a nationwide power outage on October 28. However, lights could be seen in some buildings across the city, leading many to wonder why these lights were on in certain buildings while their own were in darkness. The explanation, while simple, is not immediately obvious: the tourist metropolis’s skyscrapers were spared the lack of light thanks to generators. These machines enabled the operation of elevators and basic services in neighboring communities, such as lighting in entrances, garages, and stairwells. The water pumps, which ensure water reaches the highest floors of the towering towers, also remained functional.
At around 12:30 p.m. last Monday, a dark shadow fell over the country. This incident caught citizens completely unprepared, and many lacked the resources needed to cope with the hours without electricity that lay ahead. Dead cell phone batteries and elevators stuck with people inside dominated everyday life on a day that fortunately produced few serious incidents. In most of Benidorm’s skyscrapers, however, the reality was different: elevators continued to work, and there was light in the corridors and garages.
The reason for this is the installation of generators – devices capable of producing electrical energy via a motor and a generator. These can come in various forms, such as gas or diesel generators, the latter being the most commonly used. They start almost automatically as soon as the power goes out and shut down when it is restored. On Monday, they were activated immediately when the alarms went off.
According to data from 2023, there are 26 buildings in Benidorm that are taller than 100 meters, 65 buildings that are taller than 80 meters and have more than 20 floors, and 62 buildings with more than 25 floors. In a city like this, it’s almost essential to have this kind of “extra” power to be prepared for any problems. Especially for towers 200 meters high and more than 50 stories high, using the stairs would be a major challenge if the power went out and the water pumps failed. Getting stuck in an elevator during a power outage is also a serious risk. Within just 24 hours of Monday’s power outage, personnel from the provincial fire service consortium conducted 21 rescues of various kinds in the Marina Baixa area, 14 of them in Benidorm, with the majority of rescues taking place in elevators.
Most tall buildings are equipped with one of these generators, which can “rescue” residents from the critical situation for an average of eight hours – depending on use, the connected devices, and their size.
High-rise buildings integrate such machines into their infrastructure to be prepared for any kind of setback. A national power outage doesn’t necessarily have to occur; A power outage can also occur in a single building or a neighborhood. With a well-maintained generator, residents can have light in common areas, ride the elevator without getting stuck, and water will continue to flow from the taps. Fire service sources confirmed that “thanks to these generators, we were able to prevent more people from becoming trapped in elevators during the power outage.”
But is it mandatory to install such generators in tall buildings? According to the Benidorm City Council’s municipal engineers, regulations require that buildings taller than 28 meters (equivalent to about eight or nine floors) must have a system that allows for emergency elevator access. This means that an elevator must be connected to a generator that functions as a fire elevator in an emergency. In this case, it would be used by firefighters.
The decision to have greater capacity to provide more services or utilities is the responsibility of each building company. For example, a building might be able to power multiple elevators or the lighting of an entire skyscraper in the event of a general power outage. Such equipment is not required for buildings below this height.
Although one might assume that generators are a requirement of the most modern buildings and new construction, this is not the case. “The building I live in was built in the 1990s and has a generator. It was installed from the beginning. It saved me from having to climb 12 floors on foot,” explained one resident of a 25-story building in in the Poniente area. This “relief” of not having to climb endless stairs is shared by many residents. A property management company also confirmed: “These devices were installed in buildings as early as the 1990s, and most of them are in perfect working order.”
An important aspect is the maintenance of these generators. “Good maintenance is crucial. In many buildings, they worked correctly,” as was the case during this week’s power outage. This requires a maintenance contract, the cost of which varies depending on the desired service. According to the sources interviewed, a building can spend an average of around €400 per year to maintain an average generator.
In some buildings, the operation of the generators is checked weekly: “It’s important to see that it turns on and runs properly so that it works in an emergency.” Otherwise, it might not be ready for use at the crucial moment.
Juan Carlos Llorca, managing director of Grupo Llorca, a company that sells and services these devices and has over 40 years of experience, explained that they maintain dozens of all types of generators in Benidorm—from residential buildings to hotels and public facilities. The expert acknowledged that “many of the generators that weren’t working on the day of the power outage were due to the fact that they didn’t have maintenance contracts.” He emphasized the importance of checking the equipment. “The minimum and most advisable thing is to have this done quarterly by a specialized company that brings together all the necessary trades.” Fire service sources also emphasized the importance of keeping the generators in optimal condition at all times.
Llorca explained that the average runtime with a full tank is about 8 hours, although this depends on the equipment connected. In addition, “they could have a mother tank from which the diesel is transferred to the main tank using a pump when needed.” Operation is simple: In the event of a power outage in the grid, the generator is activated and supplies power to connected devices, such as elevators or water pumps.
Where are these generators located? “They must be soundproofed and, like all engines, have natural or forced ventilation.” They also require “an escape route, similar to that of cars.” Prices vary depending on many factors. For example, a 200 kVA generator, equivalent to 160 kW, can cost between €30,000 and €40,000.
The ability to take an elevator up, even when there is no power, is crucial for many residents. “In my building, the three elevators worked, and there was light in the hallways and entrance area,” said Tony Pola, a neighbor of a 28-story building in the Els Tolls neighborhood. “I was very surprised that it was initially bright in the common areas. Then I heard the sound of the generator.” Although he lives on the third floor, he used the elevator once, but decided to avoid it to preserve the “extra” energy longer. His parents, on the other hand, were less fortunate: “They live in a 22-story building in Rincón, and the elevators weren’t working.”
In the plazas closest to the tallest towers, the lights were visible in the buildings or stairwells. This scene was repeated in numerous skyscrapers throughout the city. Laura Martínez, who lives on the 14th floor of a 39-story building, confirmed: “It was fortunate that we were able to continue using the elevators during the blackout, which wasn’t the case in other buildings.”
In her case, “they told us to take water just in case it stopped at some point.” Why? The water pumps that pump water to the upper floors are also electric and don’t work without electricity, but with the generators. Interestingly, the resident explained that “there were many people in vacation apartments who were in the pool as if nothing had happened. They also took the elevator without realizing the situation and only realized it when they got home.”
They weren’t the only ones affected by the situation. Many neighbors discovered on the day of the power outage that their buildings had these machines, which allowed them to continue to have light in the common areas even when Spain was in darkness. From now on, they can live with greater peace of mind, knowing that even if they live on the 30th floor, they won’t have to go up or down the stairs or walk in the dark in the event of a power outage.
