energy

A power in nuclear energy is emerging as the best alternative to Russia and China for the West: South Korea

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Russia and China are indisputably two powers in nuclear energy. So are USA, France and other western alignment countries. Although these states have a bulky nuclear plant park which really places them at the forefront is Your ability to develop new technologiesand in this area the most promising reactors are The fourth generation. Russia and China already have at least A reactor of this type in operationand the US, France, India, Canada or Japan are some of the countries that plan to have them in the future. However, there is a power in nuclear energy that often goes unnoticed. We all know that South Korea has a lot of weight in semiconductor industries, consumer electron Nuclear energy as a strategic pillar Not only within its mix of electricity generation, but also as an engine of innovation and export. South Korea is the most consistent alternative to China and Russia Currently South Korea has 26 Nuclear reactors in operation with an approximate total capacity of 25.7 GWE. This infrastructure contributes to its Mix with 30% of electricity, although the commitment of this Asian country for nuclear energy does not end here. And it is that between 2026 and 2033 the construction of four more reactors will conclude that will have a power of 1,340 MWE each of them, so the total installed power in this country within less than a decade will exceed 30 GWE. Its APR-1400 reactors incorporate passive security systems that allow them to compete from you with the machines exported by Russia, China or the USA In any case, as I have anticipated a few lines above, which has placed South Korea to the avant -garde and has positioned this country as One of the largest exporters in the nuclear sector It is your ability to develop your own technologies. Their APR-1400 reactors incorporate passive security systems that allow them to compete from you with the machines exported by Russia, China or the US. In fact, South Korea has already exported this reactor to the United Arab Emirates and is negotiating with the Czech Republic and Poland to sell their technology. On the other hand, this Asian country has also opted for fourth generation nuclear fission. Your smart reactor (System-Integrad Modular Advanced Reactor), what is An SMR type design (Compact modular reactor) is in the process of certification to be used in desalination and electricity generation facilities. It also prepares fourth generation reactors refrigerated by sodium, such as the machine outlined in the Kalimer project, although it is not yet clear when the first South Korean commercial reactor endorsed by this technology will come into operation. South Korea has a very ambitious plan: wants to capture at least Ten international contracts until 2030. His first project abroad has been Barakah’s nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates, and It has been a success. As I mentioned a few lines above, Czech Republic and Poland are presumably will bet on South Korean reactors, but South Korea nuclear energy companies are also trying to take contracts in Egypt, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Turkey and even in the United Kingdom. If only some of them get to fruition this Asian country will become a full competitor in the international market of China, Russia, France or the US. Image | Wikierati More information | Bloomberg In Xataka | Spanish nuclear have been criticized for their role in the blackout. This was what they did before, during and after collapse

Wind energy were happy to promise their expansion in Colombia. Until he ran into indigenous communities

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La Guajira is one of the departments poorer from Colombia, home of Wayuu indigenous people and a land shaken by some of the strongest winds in the country (there is talk of gusts of 11 m/sa 100 meters high), which has turned the region into a key protagonist of the Government’s commitment to renewable energies. The problem is that these pieces are not easy to fit. As the wind turbines have been raising in La Guajira they have also done it The voices in local communities that warn of their impact and see the green revolution with distrust. There are those who already speak of “The Wind War”. “Only with the energy of La Guajira …” La Guajira, a Caribbean region located northwest of Colombia, It has sun And wind, which makes it a strategic piece for renewables in the country. He made it clear In 2023 President Gustavo Petro, when during the signing of the Pact for the transition Energy said the department has potential for 25 GW. “With the clean energy of La Guajira at its maximum, we could replace Colombia’s electricity generation, including hydroelectric plants,” He stressed. Mill display. He is not the only one who thinks. La Guajira offers a panorama attractive enough so that over recent years it has caught the attention of companies in the sector. In 2019 the Indepaz Institute I calculated that throughout the next decade up to 57 wind projects promoted by 19 companies could be built, many of them linked to multinationals. In summary: tens of thousands of hectares and several thousand self -generators. For now, BBC points out that in the region there are 15 parks under construction that will be added to existing ones, such as Guajira 1with a power of 20 MW. Something more than wind. La Guajira is nevertheless more than a territory in which to lift wind turbines. The Peninsula is also home to Wayuu peoplean indigenous community that has seen how the soil he occupies for generations became the object of desire for energy. With all that that implies. “The situation is complicated since many companies, several of them, began to arrive with the intention of developing renewable projects,” explained A year ago Mikel Berraondo, a lawyer specialized in human rights and indigenous peoples, in an article published in The country. To that factor is added another, just as relevant. According to data from the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) of Colombia, at least in 2022 La Guajira was the second department of the country with a Greater poverty index. His fact only overcame him. The area too stands out In studies on “multidimensional poverty” and according to data collected in 2022 in the middle Portfolio Thousands of homes also lack electrical connection. The wind war. The situation in La Guajira has tensioned so much that there are those who already speak of “The Wind War”. And the reason is not so much wind projects themselves as the way they are being deployed. Critical voices They speak of lack of impact studies and a limited participation of communities in the benefits generated by parks. They also question how traditional authorities that represent the peoples settled in the region for centuries have been consulted, which would have in turn referred to conflicts. “Disturb our dreams”. In An article Prepared two years ago María M. Monsalve explains that the Wayuu have questioned the previous consultations that, theoretically, should ensure that the development of wind projects is not done back to them. The reason: according to critics, there are closed pacts with people who do not hold the property of the land or have decision -making capacity. The equation is complicated by the existence of different authorities in the communities, the debate on how to compensate them or the impact of plants on the culture of the natives. “At night, the noise of the turbines disturbs our dreams. For us they are sacred,” Point to the BBC José L. Iguarán. When he now leaves his house in La Guajira, what he sees is a row of mills. What … and how. “There have been no analysis of the risks and studies of impacts on human rights with the participation of the communities. Nor are they seen resolution and mitigation of adverse impacts. And, judging by the complaints that arrive from the Wayuu communities and organizations, the international standards of rights of indigenous peoples ratified in Colombia are not being respected,” laments Berraondo. “Many communities do not oppose the development of projects if their rights are respected.” The debate, served. The issue is complex because other relevant factors are added to the tensions in the community, such as Energy plans from the country or the contributions of companies to the territory. Despite the noise of turbines or how they affect their traditions, Iguarán admits that in certain aspects its people have also been favored with the arrival of the wind farm Guajira i. The company behind the project has financed better infrastructure for water channeling or traffic and pays several communities a quota that depends on the income generated by electricity and the sale of carbon credits. Enough? “Companies are not respecting the right to participation for the benefit of communities and, on the other hand, offer them social investment plans with trap, since they can only execute such plans with the same companies that propose them,” Berraondo trench. A problem with consequences. Beyond the debate generated in Colombia or its media reach inside and outside the country, the situation in La Guajira is relevant because It is affecting to the sector and complicates the plans of the companies. TO late 2024 EDP ​​Renewables, in charge of the Alpha and Beta parks in La Guajira, decided to leave Colombia. The reason: delays and complications in which several factors influenced, such as COVID, but also the increase in indigenous communities involved in the prior consultation phase. In 2023 And after the effect of “Constant” Protests in the … Read more

Portugal has wanted to shield energy from Spain: the light bill has been the first to pay the price

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Spain and Portugal closed last year proclaiming themselves of the energy transition, since 82% of its electricity It came from clean sources. Within this energy harmony in which both countries were walking together, it seems that it has vanished after the blackout of April 28. Short. Still without An official explanation Clara of the causes of the mass blackout, both Spain and Portugal They have established a joint committee to investigate what happened. Meanwhile, Portugal has chosen to suspend electricity imports from Spain as a preventive measure, According to Financial Times. A fragmented energy island. The Iberian Peninsula is considered an “energy island” for its limited connections with Europe. For this reason, both countries have been forced to each other to balance their electrical systems. However, the blackout has evidenced the fragilities of this interdependence and has led Portugal to question the level of energy dependence it maintains with Spain. In Xataka If the question is "a country can hold only with renewable energy"the answer is here next: Portugal Immediate repercussions. Before the blackout, Portugal imported up to 35% of its electricity from Spain. This flow not only covered the Luso Energy Deficit, but also allowed the neighboring country to store the Spanish surplus in its hydroelectric plants, acting as water batteries, such as has detailed The Financial Times. However, the abrupt cut of that supply has left the country exposed to a much more expensive electric market. In data. According to OMIEwholesale electricity prices in Spain fell up to € 10.24/MWh, while in Portugal they shot € 47.92/MWh. This price difference has put in trouble to Portuguese companies and consumers, especially those without long -term contracts that protect them from sudden rise in rates. There is a shy openness. On Thursday after the blackout, imports began to reopen again, but limited capacity has maintained high prices in Portugal. According to the RENthe Portuguese electricity operator has indicated that the import capacity will be limited to 1,000 megawatts per day until May 12, a figure that represents less than a fifth of the usual import volume. {“Videid”: “X88TF3K”, “Autoplay”: False, “Title”: “Save on your light bill: the best options to know prices on your mobile”, “Tag”: “Webedia-prod”, “Duration”: “258”} Future implications. As He has collected The Financial Times, the Minister of Energy of Portugal, Maria Da Graça Carvalho, has pointed out a gradual restoration of imports from Spain. However, Armindo Monteiro, director of CIP, the main business group in Portugal, has warned that the country “does not live or should live in electrical isolation”, and has underlined the need to review the safety and dependence conditions in an uncertain energy context. Image | Pxhere Xataka | Spain has opted for the plot, but has left the network thrown: how micro -redes fit the energy puzzle (Function () {Window._js_modules = Window._js_modules || {}; var headelement = document.getelegsbytagname (‘head’) (0); if (_js_modules.instagram) {var instagramscript = Document.Createlement (‘script’); }}) (); – The news Portugal has wanted to shield energy from Spain: the light bill has been the first to pay the price It was originally posted in Xataka by Alba Otero .

How micro -redes fit into the energy puzzle

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In recent years, Spain has turned the sun In his best ally for photovoltaic generation. However, the April 28 blackout has evidenced the lack of effective integration in the electricity network. Short. Until now, the first image that always accompanies renewables are batteries, but there is another network coupling system: micro -redes or micrographs. According to He explained Borja Santos, CEO of Full & Fast, for Europa Press, micro -redes are autonomous energy systems composed of a power converter and a battery system. These systems receive all energy inputs and outputs from different sources, such as structure, solar panels or even conventional electricity. Deeper. The micro -redes They operate through storage systems that allow accumulating the energy generated at times of low demand or high production. This stored energy can then be released at critical moments, guaranteeing system stability. This model not only provides supply security, but also offers economic opportunities by managing stored energy and releasing it when the market price is more favorable. When the energy zero arrived. In case of a main supply drop, the MICRORRED can continue to function independently, maintaining the continuity of the energy service for its users. In other words, micro -redes act as a “network within the network”, allowing communities, industries or rural areas to continue operating without interruptions, even if the national electrical system collapses, such as has detailed Borja Santos. In addition, he added that the blackout revealed the lack of systems capable of generating its own voltage and frequency reference. The micro-redes, on the contrary, can do so, thus preventing the systems from entering in a state of “stand-by” as happened in Spain. In other words, what gives you the micorred is self -sufficiency and the ability to continue operating and working uninterruptedly, there is light or not. A country with solar overcapacity. Spain has invested massively in solar parks, but, like has pointed out The former Minister of Public Administration, Jordi Sevilla, the electrical system has not adapted to this new reality. Seville has warned that “the generation points connected to the transport network have been multiplied, as well as its geographical distribution,” which has increased the complexity of managing the electrical system. In addition, he explained that the normative proposals presented by Red Electrica to regulate photovoltaic investors have been in the Ministry’s drawers for years, while the network still does not adapt to the new realities of the energy mix. However, the problem does not lies in generation capacity, but in the inability to manage it effectively. In this sense, Borja Santos has pointed out That “in Spain there is overcapacity of solar generation, but those solar parks confront a problem: they generate maximum energy when you least pay the market”, which reduces profitability for investors. The implementation. Despite the potential of the micrordes, their mass implementation in Spain faces several challenges. On the one hand, the current regulation does not sufficiently encourage the development of these systems, and the normative proposals that would allow renewables to help control the tension and reactive current of the network still sleep “the dream of the righteous”, According to the former minister. On the other hand, the Spanish electrical system It has been designed To manage synchronous energies, such as gas or nuclear, which generate their own frequency reference. Renewables, on the other hand, depend on electronic systems that do not offer this reference naturally, which increases the complexity of integrating large volumes of solar or wind energy without compromising its stability. For that reason, UNEF has pointed out the implementation of the procedure Operation 7.4 would allow renewables to control the tension and reactive current of the network, contributing to mitigate future blackouts. Forecasts. The April 28 blackout evidenced a problem in the management and storage capacity of the national electrical system. The micro -redes are presented as a solution thanks to their ability to operate independently and maintain the supply at critical moments. Image | Pexels and Victor Romero v Xataka | There is a suspect number 1 to explain the total blackout of Spain: a poor stabilization of the electricity grid

60% of all its energy has vanished in five seconds

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About 22.53 at night, Pedro Sánchez has returned to the Spaniards to communicate news about The great blackout in which Spain has been immersed from 12.32 in the morning. The President of the Government, again without accepting media questions, has begun by pointing out that according to Red Eléctrica data almost 50% of the electricity supply has been restored. At 8:35 p.m., the operator spoke of 35%, so we talked about a good rhythm if we take into account that the The task is titanic According to experts. 60% of the generation suddenly vanished in seconds Just after the blackout, of 25.94 Gigawatts of demanded demand, the real demand was 14.18 gigawatts, reaching 10.55 gigawatts shortly after. Click on the image to go to the Electric Red website. Sanchez still does not explain what the blackout has caused, but he has given figures of something unpublished. As they have communicated from Red Electrica, “at 12.33 this morning, 15 Gigawatts (GW) generation have suddenly lost the system. And have been lost in just 5 seconds. “ As they had already pointed from Red Electrica during the day, as well as other experts, Sánchez has pointed out that “this is something that had never happened.” And has continued: “15 gigawatts equals approximately 60% of the country’s demand at that time“ As explained by the engineer Jorge Morales de Labra in the 24 -hour Channel of RTVE, the wind and photovoltaic electricity generation plants, “they have what is called protection against tension holes.” This means that when there is an incident in the network, the hole causes “that system tension is lost for a few milliseconds.” According to Morales de Labra, some mainly renewable energy -producing facilities, “what they do is that before that disturbance, they disconnect from the network.” If the big question is “What has caused that disappearance?”, The answer is still unknown, according to Sánchez. “It is something that specialists have not yet been able to determine.” As mentioned this morning, remember that they are analyzing all possible causes “without ruling out any hypotheses, no possibility.” Of course, given the possibility of cyber attack, you have to Remember that the EU has ruled out. The Government hopes to recover the light tomorrow throughout the territory Right now we are 50% of the estimated demand, and what Sanchez has communicated is when we will recover normality, or almost. “We work with a clear objective and that tomorrow the light has returned to the entire territory. And in any case, we are already adopting the necessary preventive measures to assist those municipalities to which electricity may take longer to return. ” According to The latest data shared by Red Electricaat 00:00 61.35% of the planned peninsular demand has been recovered, which involves 14,074 GW. We talk about 13.15% in an hour and a half. From 20:35 to 22:30 that percentage was recovered approximately, so right now Recovery is accelerating. A problem he has pointed out during the press conference is that The recovery is very asymmetric: “There are autonomous communities that have already recovered up to 97% of the supply and there are others that, unfortunately they are below 15%.” Therefore, he calls to respond according to the territories. Where the activity has not been recovered, especially, Sanchez asks workers “to prioritize security.” In the face of students, the government recommends following the instructions of regional governments. In Andalusia, Castilla La Mancha, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Murcia and Community Valencian, level three of Civil Protection has been established, so that there is the Government who controls what is done. And what has been decided is that the centers remain open, without school activity. Image | Thomas Aseyroux in UnspashMoncloa In Xataka | What is the “energy zero” and why the supply can go suddenly but it takes hours to recover

What is the “energy zero” and why the supply can go suddenly but it takes hours to recover

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The general blackout in Spain is causing many problems at the level of transport or trade, and in the meantime hospitals are going to their emergency generators. The situation has been caused after the so -called “energy zero”. Energy zero. This is called the situation in which the flow of electricity in an electrical system is interrupted or significantly reduced, reaching zero. The question, of course, is why this problem occurs. Diverse causes. This event can occur for various reasons such as infrastructure failures, climatic events or great imbalances between supply and demand. Consequences. We are living them: lack of supply in essential homes, businesses and services such as transport, communications or health, in addition to damage to teams and the consequent economic impact. It has already happened in the Canary Islands. In June 2020 there was an energy zero in the south of Tenerife, and in fact in the Canary Islands there have been several similar episodes In recent years. The Governing Council approved in September 2022 a sanction of eight million euros to Red Eléctrica de España for the problems derived from that fall. And in the world. There have been large electric blackouts in various parts of the world for decades. In Italy, in 2003, 57 million people They were affected by a high voltage line affected by a series of fallen trees during a storm. In India, in July 2012, 700 million people They were affected by an electricity overdex. Chile suffered a recent blackout last February A very serious infraction of the Law of the Electric Sector. The law of the electrical sector that regulates these situations establish that these types of problems represent a very serious infraction. In article 64.31 The following is specified: “The interruption or suspension of the supply without the legal or regulation requirements established or outside the assumptions provided legally or regulation.” The supply goes fast, but slowly returns. In this type of event, the electricity supply goes completely in an instant, but its recovery is much more gradual and can take hours. From Red Electrica Español they indicated half an hour after the blackout how the supply begins to recover in the north and southern peninsular, but it will take some time that the recovery is complete. It is not known how exactly, but in some parts of Spain the electricity supply is already being recovered, they indicate media such as being. Xataka | There are so many Australians with solar panels in their roofs that the electricity grid has been one step away from the abyss

There is so much energy available in Spain right now that it is allowing you to become an export power

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The Spanish electrical system has achieved a milestone by covering 100% electric demand with renewable energy. However, this surplus of clean energy has led to the phenomenon Curtailment to maintain the stability of the network. Even so, it has been possible to export more than ever electricity to neighboring countries. Renewable boom. In the last three years, Spain has added more than 23,000MW new wind and photovoltaic power. According to the latest monthly renewable APPA report to which has had Pvmagazine access, this impulse has translated into record exports of 1.536GWh, which represents an increase of 84.4% compared to last year. The data has detailed a clear pattern of energy surplus. France received 1,388 GWH of Spanish electricity, while barely exported 197 GWh to our country. With Portugal the exchange was more balanced, but equally favorable: 775 GWh exported compared to 619 GWh imported. The most striking case is that of Morocco, where Spain sold seven times more energy than it bought, specifically 197 GWh against only 27 GWh received. In economic terms. The export has generated approximately 81.4 million euros in a single month, calculated on the basis of the average price of 53.09 euros per megavatio registered hour In the OMIE daily market. This figure acquires greater relevance if we consider that Spain already accumulates 41 consecutive months as a net exporter of electricity, a streak that coincides precisely with the period of greater renewable expansion in its history. Was he planned? Although there is no explicit plan to turn Spain into an energy exporter, the latest promotion policies that pass subsidies and Changing permissions They have created a structural surplus. The authorities already work to optimize surplus management, avoiding the Curtailment (cuts in renewable generation) and prioritizing export when production exceeds national demand. A lot of export … and import? The European electrical system, It is highly interconnectedbut still with improvement margin. There is an important exception: current exports do not equal energy “savings” for the future. The market operates in real time, with prices that constantly fluctuate according to the supply and demand of each moment. And another inevitable question. Why don’t the price of light fall in Spain? As mentioned above, the average price of electricity stood at € 53.09/MWh, which is 161.8% more than last year. This apparent contradiction is explained by The Marginalist Price Fixing Systemwhere the most expensive technology necessary at all times – generally the combined cycle plants that work with gas – establish the price for all. Thus, although the renewables produce at very low costs (about € 12/MWh on average), their cheaper is limited by the still necessary presence of gas in the mix, whose average time price reached € 61/MWh in the last month. There is still a long way. Although there is a great renewable capacity, you also have to think about ways of Store the surplusthink about Intelligent networks with Europe and rethink a long -term sustainable marginalist model. This commitment to Spain for a more sustainable model has positioned the country as an important actor in the European energy market. The challenge is now to convert this technical success to benefits for the national economy and the pocket of consumers. Image | Pacoqt Xataka | After roofs and balconies, railings: the solar panels have been determined to conquer every building span

How excess clean energy has tested the electricity grid in Spain

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This Holy Week has achieved a historical milestone in the energy sector in Spain: for the first time 100% could be covered of the electrical demand with renewables. However, behind this success there is a shadow that does not benefit the electricity grid: the Curtailment. Short. The phenomenon Curtailmentor “renewable cut”, occurs when there is an excess of electric production. Then, the system operator – in this case, the Spanish electricity grid – is forced to temporarily reduce or stop wind turbines or solar panels to maintain the stability of the network, According to EDP Energy. The root of the problem. Although there are optimal wind or sun, the REE must stop the renewable generation for two reasons. On the one hand, there may be excess production over hours that do not coincide with consumption peaks. On the other, As was already being discussedan energy inequality persists in the country: the “emptied Spain” produces and is far from the large consumption centers. As has detailed At eldiario.es, electrical networks were not designed to transport current volumes, creating bottlenecks that force production to stop. The waste. He Curtailment It is causing consequences that alert experts. According to Aurora Energy Researchlast year in Spain, 1.7 Renewable Energy TWH was wasted, sufficient to supply 600,000 homes for a full year. The worrying, as the study has indicated, this figure represents 13% more than in 2023, confirming an upward trend that, if not corrected, can be intensified in the coming years. An opening of solutions. Despite the cut there are different devices to be able to keep the network stable. First, continue building more large -scale storage systems through batteries either reversible hydroelectric plantsallowing to save the surplus to release it when necessary. Another system comes with an innovation of fingering by implementing Intelligent networks that combine IoT sensors with AI algorithms, capable of predicting excess production. These systems, complemented with digital twins that virtually replicate the behavior of the network, allow to optimize energy flows and reduce up to 30% spills, According to data collected by strategic energy. Crossing borders. Looking towards the neighbors, interconnections could be improved with France and Portugal to channel surpluses. As has pointed out In the school environment, these connections will allow the export of energy to be planned in advance, although currently its capacity remains limited. Forecasts Curtailment represents one of the greatest practical challenges of the Spanish energy transition. While Spain continues to beat records in renewable installation, the ability to take advantage of every kilowatt will make the difference between a truly sustainable energy model and another that, paradoxically, continues to waste part of its green potential. Image | Joan Grifols and Pexels Xataka | The production of renewables in Europe is so strong that it is forcing nuclear power plants to work

For the first time, 100% of Spain’s energy has been covered with renewables. The question is whether we can repeat it

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If a couple of years ago It was a utopia Talking to produce 100% renewable energy in Spain, last year, showed, together with Portugal, how to lead the energy transition with 82% clean electricity. But in a display of energy ambition, last Holy Thursday, April 17, Spain managed to produce 100% renewable energy. Short. At the end of 2024, Spain closed with an installed power of 132,343 MW in its electrical system, being 64.3% of the total renewables. Last Thursday, wind and solar energy covered with more than 100% of demand in Spain, According to the Spanish Electricity (Ree). Specifically, at 2:45 pm he reached the maximum peak at 114.42%. In data. According to the statistics of the Spanish Electricity (Ree)the maximum energy of that day was 114.52% renewable and wind along with the plot reached 100.29%; while, nuclear did not exceed 12%. For its part, like He explained The Xavier Cugat energy analyst, the minimum clean energy data were 55.89%, and the plot together with the wind reached 25.88%; On the other hand, nuclear energy did not reach 7%. Temporary nuclear closure. On Holy Thursday it was a fairly moved day, not only because of the steps of Holy Week, but because in terms of energy matter, the co -chip nuclear power was temporarily closed, leaving only two active nuclear, according to the middle the country. In total, five nuclear were stopped, which raised renewable prominence to more than 77% of the generation. And even with that scenario, According to Energy Analyst Pedro Frescothe situation was export and storage to the maximum, and even renewable energy was waste that was not generated. This context reopens the debate on the nuclear closure calendar. Faced with those who argue that turning off centrals implies more emissions, energy expert Xavier Cugat has sustained otherwise: “Eliminating nuclear does not imply more emissions; it is the only way to continue expanding renewables, which are the only ones that are reducing emissions here and worldwide.” In 2023, According to Irena data The world added 585 GW of renewables, compared to just 3.9 GW of nuclear. So is energy left over? With so many green gigawatts, the big question is what to do with energy when it is left over. Storage has become the great technical challenge and Spain has found a solution in its reservoirs. This system has doubled Its activity in the last 15 years and is key in network management, the last battery megaproject It is located in Gran Canaria. What if there is no sun or wind? In Germany they call it Dunkelflautea word that describes that perfect storm in which there are cloudy days without wind, so the renewable generation plummeted. However, in Spain, this scenario is less frequent. In addition to having a greater solar irradiation and strong wind gusts according to which areas of the country, the system has the support of hydroelectric energy acting as a great stabilizer. Although we still partially depend on gas at times of low generation, the truth is that there is no “Mr. Burns” willing to cover the sun. The problem is not the lack of light, but how to take advantage of it when it is left over. Symptom of something more or a day flower? More and more cases of countries are using 100% of their electrical demand with renewable, there are potential cases such as Denmark that wind production exceeds the total demand of the country or Portugal which managed to supply exclusively with clean energy for six days in a row. In the case of Spain, reaching this milestone does not seem a coincidence since it occurs in a context of strong renewable growth, reinforced infrastructure and improvements in network management. Everything indicates that it is not an anecdote, but a clear indication of a structural change that advances firmly. A historic day. And now what? 100% renewable energy production in Spain marks a milestone and the final destination projected for nuclear. Although it has been a stable source, its high cost, the waste it generates and the thrust of new renewable technologies question their continuity in the energy mix. The key to the future will be to build a more flexible electrical system, capable of adapting to renewable variability and backed by modern storage and network infrastructures. Image | Pexels Xataka | Almost a year working only with renewables. Thus Uruguay has managed to arm the rest of the world

Solar energy and the price of light are suffocating it

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Europe opted for the wind. For years, wind turbines were symbol of the energy transition in the continent; The spearhead of the European renewable industry. But something has been crooked. Wind energy, especially offshore, has stopped its expansion dry While photovoltaic solar grows wildlyapparently unstoppable. A very unequal career. After a few years growing in parallel, the plot beat wind in facilities at the beginning of this decade. Since then, he has been adding between four and five times more capacity than wind every year. They are complementary energies (the wind blows even at night), but it is being an unequal race. Not to say a beating. In 2024, Europe installed more than 65 GW of photovoltaic solar capacity. At the same time, expanded its wind capacity in 16 GWless than the previous year, but in the line of the last 20 years. The industry has gathered. 16,000 industry members gathered in Copenhagen a few days ago to discuss it, a new record of attendees at the Windeurope Biennial Conference. Giants like Orsted asked for a pact for marine wind: according to Bloombergthe most affected branch of the sector. They want long -term contracts supported by governments that guarantee fixed prices for electricity, which gives us a key to the problem: many projects do not take off for financial uncertainty. Wind energy (black) and solar (yellow) facilities since 2000. Image: Bloomberg Electricity too cheap? Europe already has so much renewable capacity that, when the wind blows, wind turbines flood the cheap electricity marketsinking prices (Sometimes until they make them negative), which discourages new investments. Without mechanisms to manage that oversu Green hydrogen production), Building more wind in certain European countries ceases to be profitable. It is not the only problem. Beef by the increase in steel price, the rise in interest rates and complex logistics to transport palas and towers, the wind industry has seen its offices fired. Building wind farms, especially in the sea, is today much more expensive than a few years ago. Wind is also exposed to greater bureaucracy and public opposition than solar. Permits to install wind farms remain a bureaucratic crucis in many regions (if not, tell Galicia). To which the local opposition is added due to the landscape impact, an obstacle that the solar panels (although they also have their own) raffle more easily. A solar sponator. While wind fight against wind and tide (never better), photovoltaic solar lives its golden age thanks, above all, to mass production in China. The oversight has Negative consequences for Chinese companiesbut in Europe we only see the good side: the solar panels are getting cheaperaccessible and efficient. They can also be installed almost anywhere: roofs, wasteland, facades … and its deployment is much faster and modular than that of a wind farm. Self -consumption and energy communities shoot thanks to these facilities, which also explains the decoupling between solar capacity and wind capacity. A global trend. In the rest of the world Three quarters of the same occurs. While global solar facilities grew 34% in 2024, wind turbines barely added 5% capacity. For Europe, which has a strong wind industry and very demanding climatic objectives, it is very bad news. Although solar grows faster, wind usually has a larger plant factor; That is, it produces more energy by megavatio installed throughout the year. They are also complementary energy sources: the wind usually blows stronger in winter and at night, just when the lot falters. We need both to decarbonize the network in a stable and safe way. In Xataka | Europe has installed so much renewable energy that now has an unusual problem: too cheap electricity

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