allied

France and Morocco have allied to flood Europe with green ammonia. And compete directly with Spain

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In December 2022, in full energy crisis and with the intention of stop depending on gas and oil from Russia, Spain, Portugal and France joined To define the H2Med green hydrogen corridor. The idea was to start producing green hydrogen for electricity generation, something that Spain can contribute thanks to its reserves and Great surplus of renewable. In April 2024, Europe approved the two axes planned in Spainbut a few months later, France reached a parallel agreement with Morocco. This is the Chbika project, and is as ambitious as controversial. Chbika. Europa presumes being a Power in renewablessomething that has been revealed in recent months, but also wants import a huge amount of energy directly from Africa. According to Europe, it is “essential to meet the objectives of the European green pact And to reinforce energy security ”, and within these agreements is the signed between France and Morocco. In October 2024, taking advantage of the visit of the French president Emmanuel Macron to Morocco, and with the presence of King Mohammed VI, an ambitious plan for the industrial production of green hydrogen and ammonia was signed. Goals. This project is driven For a European consortium formed by TE H2, a Joint-Venture of the French groups Total Energies and Eren, but also with the Danes Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and AP Moller Capital. Their goals are: Build wind and solar infrastructure on land with 1 GW capacity. Green hydrogen production using the electrolysis technique thanks to Desalinated seawater. Use hydrogen to get 200,000 tons of annual green ammonia, mainly for the European market. Green ammonia. Apart from green hydrogen, which is used to generate electricity, the Green ammonia It is a compound formed by nitrogen and hydrogen that is achieved by electrolysis that uses renewable energies. The traditional process to achieve ammonia implies natural gas, so the use of renewables in the process makes it a process without CO₂ emissions. The main use of ammonia is as agricultural fertilizer, but it can also be used as a hydrogen bearer. It has a high energy density and is easier to transport than hydrogen (not needing cooling as extreme as H2), which makes it an energy vector to export hydrogen at long distances. In search of treasure. This agreement seeks not only to strengthen cooperation between Europe and Africa in energy matters, but also consolidates the position of Morocco as a key supplier of clean energy to the European Union. And it is aligned with the Repowereu program that intends to import 10 million tons of green hydrogen before 2030. Although the pact was signed in autumn last year, a few weeks ago the confirmation of land rights in which the plant will be built and advances in technical and legal agreements that settle the bases of the operations that will come below were made. Controversy. Now, the Chbika project is not exempt from controversy. On the one hand, it has been indicated as a Moroccan maneuver to strengthen its position in green hydrogen within Europe, competing directly against Spain. On the other hand, part of the territory destined for the project, in the Guelmim-Oed Noun region, is considered by agencies such as the UN as border or superimposed with areas of the Western Saharaoccupied by Morocco. Activist organizations They denounce that many of these energy projects in Morocco are building On occupied Saharawi territoriesand what is it about *Greenwashing operations* Through clean energy while they continue to oppress the Saharawi people. Spanish plans. Meanwhile … What does Spain do? Well, some of its companies, such as acting or cepsa, They have also signed with Morocco. The objective of the African country is that renewables represent 52% of their installed capacity for 2030 and green hydrogen is a means to achieve it. And, for this, a Moroccan government committee selected five consortiums to develop six green hydrogen projects with the intention of producing ammonia, steel and industrial fuel. Problem? Apart from the competition with Spanish projects, they will be developed in the aforementioned Guelmim-Oed Noun, as well as in Dakhla-Rio de Oro and LaAyoune-Sakia el Hamra, also occupied territories, which can increase diplomatic tensions With Spain and the Sahara. Image | Topsoe Xataka | The price of gas has already reached 2022 levels. Now the European industry depends on one thing: that the cold does not return

20 years ago, BWM allied with a Chinese manufacturer to make motorcycles. Now, that manufacturer has eaten the toast completely

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The Chinese motorcycle is sweeping in Spain. So much so that at the level of brands two of the four best selling in our country They come from China. Honda and Yamaha, the Japanese mythical, endure the attack on the accumulated sales, but analyzing the photograph begins to change. A lot. The best -selling trail in Spain is VOGEthe Premium brand of the Chinese giant Loncin. This manufacturer landed in our country in 2019, today is the fourth manufacturer of the ranking, behind another Chinese manufacturer who cups third place: Zontes. About Voge, there is a curious story about how a Chinese brand is managing to conquer Europe … From the hand of a German giant. Loncin has been manufacturing BMW engines for more than 20 years And, in fact, many of the current flagship models of the German brand, such as the BMW F 900 GSThey have these engines made in China. The collaboration agreement Born in 2005, Loncin promised to redouble investment in equipment and installation to manufacture with the BMW standards and the requirements of The euro standardseven going beyond the manufacture of engines: they also manufactured motorcycles for the German company. BMW C 400 GT VS VOGE SR4 MAX 350. The BMW Scooter is based on the BWM platform and technologies. In his plan to increase income and reinforce ties with the Chinese giant, BWM licensed some of his platforms and engines to Voge, and hence the motorcycle that is sweeping in our country arises. Voge is currently the fourth Spanish manufacturer. BMW the seventhwith problems growing month by month. With the VOGE 900 DSX they have achieved their goal: Head the sales ranking in the traile segmentone of the most important and aspirational in the world of motorcycle. It is a model that drinks directly from the BMW F900gs, with the difference that at the equipment level, it is significantly above. The data is not only relevant to leadership in its category: it is because Voge has managed to place a trail of almost 10,000 euros in the third position of the best -selling brands in Spain. The other 9 are scootersa category that Cup more than 50% of the total sales in our country. VOGE 900 DSX. China’s plan to conquer the European consumer in the world of motorcycle is in two pillars: the quality-price and equipment. Regarding the first, The VOGE 900 DSX is sold for € 9,192 in Spain. Its counterparts in BMW, the F 800 GS and F 900 GS, start from € 10,970 and € 13,980, respectively. If we want to equip them, the price exceeds 15,000 euros. The commitment to notice of obstacles at the dead angle (something only common in motorcycles that cost almost double), emergency braking warning system, rapid series change, or a seven -inch TFT with Screen Mirroring are a notice to the rest of the segment giants: the selling a base product and becoming based on extras is a game in which China is not going to enter. Image | VOGE In Xataka | To manufacture for first brands to compete with them: Chinese motorcycles are sweeping in Spain

A European Startup and Microsoft have allied to overcome a major challenge: simulate brain reasoning

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Simulate the human brain It is one of the great scientific challenges of our time. It is not just a matter of calculation power: for years, laboratories around the world have invested millions in trying to replicate their operation, but even with advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and supercomputing, the goal is still far away. Why is it so difficult? Because the brain is not only an information processor, but an ultra -efficient system of just 1.4 kg with more than 86,000 million interconnected neurons. Imitating their cognitive, emotional and linguistic abilities remains a border that we have not yet crossed, although some believe we are close. INAIT simulation technology and Microsoft’s computational power Inait, a Swiss startup founded in 2018 under the premise that “the only proven form of intelligence is in the brain”, has closed an alliance with Microsoft to develop models of the capable of simulating The reasoning of mammals. Their objective is to apply them in sectors such as finance, risk management and personalized advice. In theory, everything fits perfectly. Inait says having a simulation technology based on decades of research financed by the Swiss government, and Microsoft puts on the table the infrastructure and the business model necessary to transform this commitment into products ready to reach millions of customers worldwide. But the idea is not to develop human brains simulations with all its faculties overnight. Inait is training Digital models of different sizesdesigned to address specific challenges. For example, for advanced trading or the development of industrial machines capable of adapting to complex and dynamic environments. Digital visualization of a region of the Neocortex and the thalamus, including its network of blood vessels. Here the advantage is clear: take advantage of one of the most amazing faculties of the brain, which is its ability to face completely new scenarios and adapt quickly and continuously using previous knowledge. Even when it comes to sensory, emotional or social stimuli never before experienced. According to Financial TimesAdir Ron, director of AI and Cloud of Microsoft for emerging companies, highlighted the approach of the Swiss startup: “Inait is a pioneer in a new AI paradigm: it goes beyond traditional models based on data towards digital brains capable of a True cognition” For his part, Henry Markram, co -founder of INAIT, said that AI models based on brain simulations could not only learn much faster than current deep reinforcement systems, but also have significantly lower energy consumption. This would mean a key advantage in terms of efficiency and sustainability. Now we only have to wait to see if this vision translates into tangible advances or if, like so many other technological promises, You can’t advance enough. The possibility of building AI models that imitate the learning and adaptability of the human brain is a monumental challenge, but also an extremely interesting goal. Images | Milad Fakurian In Xataka | We already know at what speed our brain processes: just 10 bits per second In Xataka | Figure creates a system to make large -scale humanoid robots. And of course, there will be robots manufacturing robots

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