energy

Germany is installing giant concrete spheres under the sea. You have a good reason: store renewable energy

by

While France and Germany reinforce their energy alliances with a renewed bet For nuclear energy, within the German country they are developing a completely different system. The focus is on marine depths, with the aim of redefining the way in which renewable energy is stored. Under the sea. A group of researchers the Fraunhofer Institute of Germany They have created the Stensea project (Stored Energy AT Sea acronym). Since 2011, the equipment has worked in a solution to reduce land use, reaching the conclusion of sinking huge concrete spheres into the seabed to store energy. The operation. These spheres sink at 600 and 800 meters deep, where water pressure is so high that it can rotate turbines with great efficiency. Each one measures about 9 meters in diameter and weighs about 400 tons. The idea is that they work as giant batteries: by letting the sea water in, it moves a turbine connected to a generator. To recharge it, water pumps out, using network energy to overcome environmental pressure. A design of what a Stesea plant would be A real test. The system has already been successful at Lake Constanza, and now the next step is marked in the calendar by 2026. It is expected to install a prototype real and 3D printed on the coast of Long Beach, in California. This model can generate about 0.5 megawatts and store up to 0.4 megawatts-Hora, which would be enough to cover the consumption of a middle home in the United States for about two weeks. The future idea is ambitious: building much larger spheres, up to 30 meters in diameter, capable of storing much larger amounts of energy. The objective is to climb the system with spheres up to 30 meters in diameter, which would allow a much larger storage capacity. According to They have detailed Newatlas researchers, the estimated storage cost around the 5 cents per kilowatt-hora, a very competitive figure compared to other current solutions. Renewables in Germany. Although it seems contradictory for its climate, the country has been strongly betting on solar energy, especially In self -consumption facilities. However, it faces an important challenge: intermittent production, or Dunkelflaute. For this reason, projects such as Stesea can act as a shock absorber of the electrical system, because it stores excess renewable energy and releases it when it is most needed. So hydroelectric plants? Unlike traditional pumping storage –which requires mountains and large fresh water reserves-, this system does not need limited elevations or water resources. Its modular design allows it to install it on coasts around the world. In addition, this system has raised An economic advantage since it allows energy arbitration, buying electricity when it is cheap and selling it in moments of high demand. Forecasts The researchers They believe that this technology He has barely shown the tip of the iceberg. They estimate that, if it was deployed on a large scale, it could reach a global storage capacity of about 817,000 gigawatts-Hora. Translated to something more tangible, it would be enough to supply about 75 million homes in Europe for a whole year. However, although the project is presented as a solution to avoid intensive soil use, it does not stop moving that occupation to the seabed. Until now, the approach has been mainly technical, but it would be expected that in future phases rigorous environmental evaluations will be included that analyze its impact on oceanic ecosystems. Image | Stesea Xataka | Europe’s turn to nuclear: Germany and France have signed a pact to reconfigure the continent

Humanity’s plan was to depend less on gas to generate energy. The AI ​​think something very different

by

When The alarms jumped by him temperature increase globally, it was launched The decarbonization plan. Countries, large technology and automotive companies marked objectives for reduce your carbon emissions with goals set for 2030 and 2050. Have been applying measures for itbut with what the industry – and the planet – did not have the rise of the artificial intelligence and his Energy voracity. One so extreme that there are those who rub their hands: companies that create gas turbines. The threat of renewables. 2024 was a Good year for renewables. Although it is something that has caused an authentic War between Chinese companiesmarket saturation has allowed the panel price Lower considerably. This facilitates the Installation of self -consumption systemsbut it has also allowed huge parks to flourish even in such oil -dependent as Texas. We have witnessed Sorpasso of renewables in Europethere are countries that have worked for months only with renewables And that push of solar panels is making progress in the race for the Green hydrogen. Artificial intelligence. Companies have also adapted their systems to be more efficient, consume less water and even build more respectful and sustainable facilitiesbut in the same way that 2024 was the year of the explosion of renewables, it was also for AI. That is why the main technological have begun to Expand and build data centers all over the world (something that It doesn’t look good everywhere) to be able to meet the current demand for this technology. Change of plans. That high energy consumption has pushed some of the Big Tech to opt for something striking: Operate your own nuclear power plants. Giants such as Amazon, Google or Microsoft have shown their plans to Create or reactivate nuclear centralsbut it’s not the only thing. European oil companies have readjusted your renewable support strategy And there are already seen that, during the AI ​​consumption peaks, the coal burning as gas to meet energy demand. Gas interest. That renewed interest in gas is something that already has consequences, and Siemens is a perfect example. How can we read in Bloombergthe German company estimated a financial result close to balance for this fiscal year, but after the growing interest in gas, they now estimate that their income could grow up to 15%. Siemens Energy manufactures, among other things, gas turbines And in recent months they have seen how this avalanche of investments in data centers with high energy demand has promoted turbine orders. In fact, contrary to what we might think in mind that we wanted to stop depending on the gas, the company has seen that the orders received have doubled during the first three months of the year. And price increase. According to the International Energy Agency, The energy demand of data centers HE will duplicate By 2030 due to AI workloads and, although renewables are in clear expansion, as the supply is intermittent, there are times when they do not meet the constant demand of these data centers. Gas is here a safety net For companies, since it provides constant energy for artificial intelligence infrastructure and coal would be used for peaks of demand. And there are already those who predict that this increase in gas demand will result in an increase in its price for the next winters. And also of carbon emissions, as we are already experiencing with cases such as Microsoft and Google, with Increases of 30% and 50% respectively in recent years. Images | Pexels, Balticservers In Xataka | Putin’s not so secret plan to survive without Europe: a giant gas pipeline to China

In Peru, a company has had an idea to take wind energy directly to your home: turbines as a lay way

by

Lego pieces have accompanied generations as a way to create without limits: blocks that are stacked on each other to form houses, cities, rockets, whatever the imagination allows. Over time, the designs became more sophisticated, with complex structures and realistic themes. But in essence, everything is still based on a simple idea: build, piece by piece. Now this idea must be extrapolated to another context as important as the generation of energy. In a world where taking advantage of every centimeter of space is vital – especially in cities – thinking of installing a wind turbine at home may seem crazy, but it is not so far from reality. A new design. A Peruvian startup, Eolic wall, has developed A new way of understanding wind energy, moving away from the traditional model of huge blades anchored in the landscape. Instead, they have created a system of modular, compact and stackable wind cells, with a square shape. Innovation. This technology has an aerodynamic design that allows speeding of the wind that crosses them, which allows to generate more electricity even with moderate breezes. Unlike traditional turbines, Eolic Wall rotor It is sustained by a peripheral ring that improves wind capture and allows a more compact design. Also, thanks to its modular design It can be stacked vertical or horizontally as construction pieces, adapting to the environment and energy demand. You can add more units over time. Willn’t there be such stuck problems from another? A common question is: “Willn’t several be saved from each other?” In traditional wind farms, turbulence between turbines reduce their performance if they are too together. However, Eolic Wall has solved this problem with an internal aerodynamic chamber, which protects the flow of the wind inside each cell. Thus interference is avoided and can be installed in places where it was unthinkable to put a turbine, such as buildings or urban courtyards. A unique peculiarity. The use of permanent strategically located magnets reduces almost zero the friction of the system. This not only improves performance, but also reduces wear and extends the life of the cells. In addition, by eliminating almost all friction thanks to its magnetic system, common maintenance and mechanical wear problems affect conventional wind turbines are faced. When will they be available? Although there is not yet an official mass launch date, Eolic Wall already It has been recognized by Forbes magazine as one of the best startups in Peru in 2024. It is currently developing pilots and Looking for alliances Strategic to climb your technology. Other systems. Eolic Wall is not alone in this tendency towards miniaturization and urbanization of wind energy. There are other interesting proposals, such as LTO TURBINA ARCHIMEDES (LIAM F1)which is committed to a helical design inspired by the Archimedes spiral to capture the wind from any direction. For its part, The turbines flowerknown for its aesthetic design in the form of a flower and its ability to function in proximity without losing efficiency. Self -consumption is no longer just solar. The future of energy self -consumption no longer depends solely on Fill the roofs of solar panels. Wind energy is gaining land in the urban environment, and proposals such as Eolic Wall are marking the way. Because maybe shortly, you can see Small stacked turbines as if they were Lego pieces. And we will not say it figuratively. Image | EOLIC WALL and Mathijs Dubbeldam Attribution-Nancommercial 2.0 Xataka | The University of Oxford has found reservations of an energy source for 170,000 years. And he has the recipe to exploit them

The solar energy that does work without electricity

by

The blackout of April 28 left Spain and Portugal without light, even surprising those who had solar panels at home. How is it possible? The answer is in the connection From facilities to the electricity grid, but there is a solution that comes from Seville. Short. The Toscano company has developed Combi Max, a differential that, when it detects a supply cut, electrically isolates the house of the rest of the network and allows you to continue using the electricity generated by the solar panels. Also, like have indicated on their websitethere is another more complete version and with extra protection against overtops and overloads. More in depth. The device developed in Seville works isolating the electrical installation of the house when the light goes, which allows us to continue using the solar energy generated at that time. In fact, its effectiveness is not only theoretical: during the blackout of April 28, several users managed to maintain the supply thanks to this system. “Correos have reached us by thanking us,” said Luis Toscano, founder of the company, In an interview with the sixth column. There are limitations. It can only be used as long as there is sunlight and the installation is generating electricity. In addition, it is not suitable for feeding high consumption appliances such as furnaces, hobs or electric cars. On the other hand, it does allow the essential elements of the home, such as the fridge, the lighting or the load of the mobile, which can make a big difference during a light cut. But it does not replace a battery. It is a great solution for the day and for moments of blackout with sun, but does not replace a battery system. For that reason, if you want to keep the supply also during the night or in cloudy days, it is necessary have energy storage. Having panels is not enough. The blackout has been a warning: it is not enough to generate energy, we must also know how to manage it. This new device, Combi Max, is a step in that address. In an increasingly electrified world it is a big step. Image | Unspash Xataka | The signals were there: Europe detected the blackout oscillations in Spain but did not know how to anticipate collapse

The University of Oxford has found reservations of an energy source for 170,000 years. And he has the recipe to exploit them

by

In a world that seeks to leave behind fossil fuelsthere is a gas that has begun to be outlined as the promise of A clean future. Its potential as an inexhaustible source of Green energy It has aroused both enthusiasm and frustration: producing it without contaminating is still expensive and technologically complex. However, a group of scientists could have found the key to hydrogen under our feet, from the very depths of the earth. Clean gold underground. We have told it On other occasions. Hydrogen has been long promoted as a key piece in the transition to a future without emissions, but also as an essential resource for modern life: in addition to being a clean fuel, it is indispensable for produce fertilizers that support half of the world’s population. The problem? That 99% that is used today It comes from hydrocarbonswhich represents around 2.4% of global carbon dioxide emissions. With a projected demand of 90 million metric tons in 2022 to some 540 million in 2050the challenge is monumental. Until now, cleanest solutions (Like electrolysis with renewable energies or carbon capture) have failed to be economically competitive. Here appears the new Oxford study Posted in Nature: The earth could have solved the problem for us millions of years ago. An unexplored reservoir. In this way, Oxford researchers together with professors at the University of Durham and Toronto have revealed that the continental cortex of the Earth has generated, throughout the last geological millennium, sufficient hydrogen amounts to supply the energy needs of humanity For at least 170,000 years. This immense reserve, natural and emission free, remains largely trapped undergroundintact. Although until now the measurements were sporadic and scattered, the New job It offers for the first time a coherent framework, a “map” if you want, to locate these reservoirs: a “Exploration recipe” (They call it) that details the types of rock, temperatures, fluids and geological conditions necessary for hydrogen to form, migrate and be trapped in exploitable deposits. The approach is not theoretical: it is designed to guide the commercial search for natural hydrogen globally, with the potential to radically transform existing energy models. Ingredients, processes and threats. Such as Professor Chris Ballentine explained in a statementleader of the study at the University of Oxford, finding hydrogen in the earth’s crust is like baking a sufflé: if one fails in any component (quantity, temperature, time or type of rock), the result will be useless. The study Identify the factors that allow a geological hydrogen system to be viable: from the chemical reactions that generate it, to conditions that destroy itlike the presence of certain underground microorganisms that feed on it. This biological threat, indicated by the co -author Barbara Sherwood Lolar, forces to avoid areas where underground bacteria can consume hydrogen before it can accumulate in usable concentrations. Ubiquitous, diverse and list source. There is much more, since The work It also disassembles previous myths on the origin of hydrogen, discarding as unfeasible the sources from the mantle terrestrial and focusing attention on common formations of the continental cortex. These can be both recent (of some millions of years) as an eldest, and are distributed globallywhich greatly expands the geographical exploration potential. Plus: the crucial, They sayIt is not to find a specific type of rock, but to understand the interaction between the chemical, thermal and historical conditions that favor the generation and storage of gas. From theory to action. Aware of the strategic value of their findings, the authors have founded the Snowfox Discovery Ltd.a company dedicated to locating natural hydrogen reserves with social impact. Its objective is clear: to find competitive, clean and sustainable sources of hydrogen, capable of replacing highly polluting current production and feeding the global energy transition without the need for expensive industrial processes. Yes Geological recipe Developed by these researchers, it can be repeatedly repeated in different regions of the planet, we would be facing the closest to an energy revolution … underground. One that does not require new futuristic technologies or dreams of merger, but simply learn to hear THE SECRETS THAT THE EARTH He has been whispening For hundreds of millions of years. Image | Rita Willaert In Xataka | Green hydrogen consumes huge amounts of water. A new incredibly simple invention allows you to use seawater In Xataka | The doors of green hydrogen from Spain have found its starting point: the Basque Country

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.