gas

A Galician gas station already knows the consequences of confusing diesel with gasoline

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Everything seemed to be going well. Well. Neither good nor bad. Everything seemed to be going normally. Until someone raised the alarm. The hose with 95 gasoline was not adding 95 gasoline. And what’s worse, it was not adding gasoline. The green hose was feeding gasoline cars with diesel. This is what happened a few days ago at the Repsol gas station in Ribadeo (Lugo). There, customers have spent almost five hours refueling diesel in their gasoline cars due to an error while filling the tanks. The company already assures that it will take care of all repairs. 270 minutes That is the time between 12:49 and 17:19. That is also the time that the Repsol gas station next to Ribadeo has been supplying diesel instead of gasoline to the cars that stopped at said station, as they have accepted in a statement published through the social networks of the Association of Industrial Traders, Services and Self-Employed (ACISA). It explains that the confusion comes from an error during filling the tanks with the tanker truck. This has meant that for four and a half hours, a mixture of gasoline and diesel has been served to those who wanted to refuel with 95 gasoline. Click on the image to go to the original post “We sincerely apologize to all those affected. We take responsibility for the breakdowns resulting from this incident,” they say in the statement while encouraging all those affected to stop the car as soon as possible, report to the insurance and get in touch through this website. At all gas stations, the diesel hose openings are wider than the gasoline ones, to avoid this mistake. Thus, unless you get stubborn and look for the most unexpected tricks to put diesel into a gasoline car (as happened to former soccer player Dani Güiza)it is very difficult to fall into this error. If it happens as in this Galician case, fill a tank with diesel It can cause serious damage to the car if we start driving it and don’t realize it until it stops completely. And diesel will cause the car’s power to drop and start to emit large amounts of smoke. After running in fits and starts, it will stop. This is a real problem because you have to empty and clean the tank but in the workshop they also have to do an arduous task to clean the spark plugs, the injectors and all the components through which the diesel has passed. When the amount of fuel refueled is low, we could continue driving, but it has to be very low. In this case, the diesel will be mixed in part with the gasoline, so if the tank has not been filled much, the situation may not have been very serious. On the other hand, those who have filled the tank will have to do a deep cleaning of all the components. Photo | Wassim Chouak and Google Maps In Xataka | We thought that gasoline cars were much cleaner than diesel cars. We did not have the effect of the sun

“Many do not check the air conditioning gas because they do not spend 60 euros and the breakdown is 400”

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To no one’s surprise, this weekend it will be hot. The news is not that it will be hot in Spain the first weekend of July, the news is that we are on our way to burning this summer. To lighten the drama a little, we can look for remedies to cool our houses, get the most out of our air conditioning and strictly follow the usual recommendations so as not to cause new health problems. But although it is recommended that we leave the long trips for the less hot hours of the day, we all know that is not always possible. The heat, a car full to the brim and a vehicle that has not been serviced in a timely manner are the best ingredients for having a problem. One that can leave us stranded in the ditch, which is not always pleasant when the sun beats down on the asphalt. The key is foresight (of course) Just as when we go on a trip we mentally write down a few details to take into account (take some water for the road, look for the least hot hours, keep an eye on Google Maps and look for a place to eat…), doing the same with our car before leaving will also save us a lot of trouble. “The key is to anticipate,” he assures us. Xavier Celda, Market Manager, Workshop Specialist at Norauto Spain. “The best remedy is always preventive maintenance. Have the car ready and checked to prevent all this from happening as much as possible.” They think the same from Midas. Francisco Javier Fuentes, mechanic and trainer at Midas Spainpoints out that “the best way to avoid breakdowns resulting from heat is to opt for preventive maintenance.” And both focus on four key points to review: Coolant liquid Tires Battery Air-conditioning Given the high heat that we have to face, Xavier Celda is clear that the first thing to look at is “the coolant. We must check that it is at the correct levels and, above all, that it has not lost its properties (it is recommended to replace it every 2 or 4 years according to the manufacturer).” And he warns: “a small leak or not changing this fluid can cause extreme overheating in the engine. This usually leads to the breakage of the head gasket, one of the most feared breakdowns whose cost on the market can exceed 1,000 euros, depending on the model.” Francisco Javier Fuentes makes the same recommendation but points out something very important: “in case of overheating, I never recommend opening the coolant tank while the engine is hot, since there is a risk of serious burns. The best thing to do is to turn off the engine, wait for it to cool and call for assistance. if required”. Checking the tires, they both match, it is essential. Always when cold, we must check the tire pressures and follow the manufacturer’s instructions if we are going to fill the trunk with packages and the passenger compartment. Firstly because any imbalance will cause constant deterioration of the moving parts of the car but, above all, for a matter of safety. And not having adequate pressure can cause greater instability, lengthen braking or, if wear is excessive, induce a blowout. The most frequent breakdowns Although this is the most important thing to look at before leaving home, Norauto and Midas point out two major victims due to the heat. The most common fault, according to both experts, is the battery. “Extreme heat accelerates the degradation of the internal components of the battery and evaporates water from the electrolyte. It is the number one cause of roadside assistance in summer and one of the main reasons why people visit our workshops during these months of intense heat,” they explain from Norauto. And they repeat from Midas: “The battery is sensitive to temperatures above 25 °C. (As a result of extreme heat) its useful life is reduced when it is continuously exposed to high temperatures.” This fault can leave us stranded at any point when we have stopped the car but there is another big signal that can leave us stranded while moving. It is not essential to continue but it has become essential to travel comfortably. It is, of course, the air conditioning. Xavier Celda, from Norauto, is clear that investing a few euros can save us a major breakdown and, above all, the inconveniences of not being able to have air conditioning: “Many drivers do not refill the gas or check the circuit until the air stops cooling completely. The problem is that forcing the system to work at the limit without the appropriate level of gas and oil can end up seizing the air conditioning compressor, a part whose replacement costs more than 400 euros, compared to the 60 or 90 euros that a recharge and preventive diagnosis costs” And although we think of air conditioning as an element of comfort, it is also an element of security. According to the Foundation for Road Safety (FESVIAL)“driving at a temperature of 35ºC, inside a vehicle, can represent a risk similar to that of being under the influence of a blood alcohol level between 0.5 and 0.8 gr/l.” According to their data, when driving with such a high interior temperature, “approximately 20% of traffic signs are not perceived and serious driver errors increase by up to 35%.” In fact, they claim that the probability of suffering an accident increases between 15 and 25%. Photo | Windy and Paréj Richárd In Xataka | Resolving one of the great debates of the summer: whether the car consumes more with air conditioning or not

Spaniards are traveling more than ever. That’s why the new trendy restaurants are gas stations and airports.

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The Spain of 2026 is not fed the same as that of 2016, 2006 and (of course) that of three, four or five decades ago. That is something that can be sensed by taking a look at the trends in the sector: the bread consumption and fish is in the doldrums in homes, just like the wine either the beerand we are increasingly inclined to buy food on trayspre-cooked or even dishes elaborated in the supermarket, what is making gold to Mercadona. For changing it has even changed the way to focus the pitanza: three course menu we have passed to the snackfication. Now we know something else: in a Spain that is increasingly inclined to travel, the ‘road’ restaurantssuch as those located at gas stations or airports. Eating ‘on the way’. We knew that 2025 had not been a bad year for hoteliers in Spain, who (although with a slight decrease in the profitability of restaurants) saw their turnover grow about 4.7%. What we didn’t know is that, within the sector, there is a niche that seems to have done well particularly good: premises located in ‘transit’ places, such as service areas, airports, railway stations and ports. That is, restaurants in which (it is assumed) a large percentage of customers are travelers in transit, people looking for a place to eat while traveling from one place to another. The percentage: 6.2%. The DBK Sector Observatory has just published a report in which it details that in Spain there are some 4,300 restaurant establishments with this profile, ‘on the road’ businesses that last year increased their sales by 6.2%. It’s not bad at all. Especially if we take into account that in 2024 the sector has already expanded by 11.6% and has registered “strong growth” since 2021. A billion-dollar business. In practice, this growth translated in 2025 into a global turnover of 1,790 million euros. Of them, 45.5% came from bars located in airports, which generated a turnover of 815 million euros. They are followed (in size) by the service areas, which generated around 785 million, the railway terminals (150 million) and the maritime stations, which totaled 40 million, around 2.2% of the sector. As for the network of ‘on-the-go’ restaurants, the service areas stand out above all. Of the 4,300 establishments of this type that DBK has registered throughout the country, 3,500 correspond to businesses located in places where customers stop to refuel. They are followed at a distance by stores located in airports, which total about 430 businesses, 10.1% of the total. Already in third place are the bars at the maritime (190) and train stations (175). Business type Billing (Millions of €) Growth % (2025-2024) Airports 815 +7.2 service areas 785 +5.9 railway stations 150 +3.4 Maritime stations 40 +2.6 TOTAL 1,790 +6.2 airport menu. He DBK report provides another interesting fact: restaurants located in airports are not only the ones that make the most money in general, they are also the ones that have expanded their business the most. The consulting firm estimates that in 2025 its turnover increased by 7.2%nothing surprising if we take into account that Aena’s passenger traffic also grew last year. The airport operator accounted in total 321.6 million of travelers, 3.9% more than in 2024. In fact Aena reached a user record both in its entire network, which includes facilities located in the United Kingdom and Brazil, and in around twenty airports. These brands are driven both by the movements of Spaniards who fly between different cities in the country or to destinations abroad, as well as by the tourists with other nationalities. Why is it important? Beyond what it means for the sector, the DKB report is interesting because it helps us understand how we eat in Spain. We know that every time we are less dice to consume fresh fish at home, which is a respectable percentage of Spaniards who never or very rarely cook and who seem to less interested on traditional bar menus and more inclined to compare precooked either dishes prepared in supermarkets. Now to all those trends, and others related to the pecking either alcohol consumptiona new one is added: more and more we eat in transit places, something that makes sense if we take into account the increase in travel outside. Images | Ivona Rož (Unsplash) and Max Harlynking (Unsplash) In Xataka | Spain has made it fashionable to serve beer in frozen glasses. Cruzcampo is clear about his opinion: “Totally against it”

The US has no alternatives for its gas turbines

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When Donald Trump and Xi Jinping they met Last month, the White House announced that China was committed to reviewing the restrictions it had imposed on rare earth exports. The first item on that list was an unusual choice: yttrium. Neither neodymium nor dysprosium (the usual protagonists of the debate about permanent magnets); a rare earth that until recently barely appeared in geopolitical risk reports. This surprise has an explanation. The focus of the West’s dependence on China in the field of rare earths has been concentrated for years on permanent magnets for electric vehicles, wind turbines and defense systems. Yttrium operates in a different segment. And it is the essential component of the thermal barrier coatings that protect the blades of gas turbines and jet engines. Without that coating, those blades would melt. The US depends almost 100% on yttrium imports, and almost all of them come from China. Despite the conversations that these two countries have had, foreign trade data confirm that Xi Jinping’s commitment has not transformed into a real flow. Chinese yttrium oxide exports collapsed after April 2025 controls; they resumed with a dropper starting in October; recorded a specific peak in March 2026, and, in May, China did not export yttrium to the US. Not a single gram. A vulnerability without a substitute GE Vernova, one of the world’s largest gas turbine manufacturers, relies on yttrium coating to make its machines work. The same goes for jet engine manufacturers. Unlike neodymium, which is mined and refined in Australia, Canada or Europe, yttrium lacks a alternative supply chain consolidated outside China. For this reason, dependence on the West is structural, and not circumstantial. The problem was aggravated by the timing of the embargo. The April 2025 checks coincided with the data center boom of artificial intelligence (IA) in the US. The investment bank Goldman Sachs estimates that energy demand of data centers will double before 2027and a good part will come from gas turbines. In this scenario, China not only restricted access to a critical material for the defense industry: it did so just when the infrastructure that fuels the AI ​​race was beginning to scale. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce not only maintains controls, but is tightening them More than a year after the embargo, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce is not only maintaining controls, but tightening them. Beijing has put in place measures to block the rerouting of rare earths through third countries, the mechanism that some Western companies had resorted to to circumvent the restrictions. The remaining window is closing. The lesson that yttrium leaves us transcends this chemical element. And the most dangerous vulnerabilities in the critical technology supply chain are not always the most visible. In this context, neodymium attracted attention, and yttrium went unnoticed until it stopped reaching the West. Then, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping’s meeting made headlines. But the important thing is that May data generate doubts. Many doubts. Image | Kian Turbo Tec More information | Volt Insight In Xataka | In the midst of the battle of all countries to obtain rare earths, an unexpected actor has raised his voice: Apple

Europe has been left without cheap gas from Russia. Their new hope is in the renewables of Morocco and Tunisia

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With the war in Russia and Ukraine, Europe forgot with blood, sweat and tears about the gas of the first to throw themselves into the arms of the United States. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has made it clear that looking for a supplier far away and through inhospitable territories is not the best idea, so the old continent has set its sights on its neighbor: North Africa, an area with enormous potential and several essential projects (for Europe) under way. After all, it has everything: abundant sun and wind, available land and it is just a stone’s throw away. That they can produce energy is a fact, the question is whether they can connect it to Europe reliably and profitably. North Africa, energy cluster. While they cook two giant African gas pipelinesthe Trans-Saharan led by Nigeria, Niger and Algeria and the pharaonic Africa-Atlantic and are committed to green hydrogen with projects such as the Algerian ALTEH2A and the Moroccan investment worth 32.5 billion dollars, in the north of the continent there are several clear and concrete plans in renewable energies: Morocco wants add 16GW of capacity and plans an investment of 16,000 million dollars in five years to materialize it. Tunisia wants to reach a 50% renewable share by 2035. It has already put out to tender 2.3 GW of wind and solar infrastructure. Norwegian Scatec closed financing and began construction of the 120 MW Sidi Bouzid II solar plant together with Toyota Tsusho, with completion scheduled for 2027. The connection to Europe is advancing with the 600 MW Elmed submarine cable bound for Sicily. Algeria plans to connect 15 GW of renewables to the grid by 2035, with a first tranche of 3.2 GW solar. Why is it important. For North African countries, these projects entail economic development, creation of critical infrastructure and technological employment and foreign investment. For Europe it is a real lifesaver: the old continent imports enormous quantities of gas, oil and electricity and since the war in Ukraine and Russia, The EU desperately seeks to diversify suppliers and has its sights set on northern Europe as a priority source of hydrogen in its Hydrogen Strategy. If these projects materialize, Europe would have cleaner, cheaper energy close to home. Context. The Strait of Hormuz crisis has revealed something that we already knew: depending on third parties for your energy is a tremendous risk. Tunisia suffers it first hand: 95% of its electricity comes from natural gas and more than 60% of that gas is imported. It’s not new: according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2024 the Middle East and North Africa region supplied more than 30% of the world’s oil and almost 20% of natural gas, but its electricity generation continues to depend on fossil fuels for more than 90%. Making the move to renewables is also a question of energy sovereignty. In these movements there is a key Italian company: Snam. In 2023 acquired a 49.9% stake in the two gas pipelines that connect Italy with Algeria and the Algeria-Tunisia gas pipeline, this places it as a natural operator facing a possible conversion to hydrogen. Despite be an “energy island” On the continent, Spain starts from a privileged position if North Africa becomes the European tap: it will be one of the entry doors. In detail. At a technical level, the most important thing is how to bring that energy to Europe: by submarine electric cable or by converting existing gas pipelines to transport hydrogen, which will have implications in both cost and management. While the second is in the study phase, the cable option is advancing: Italy has already hired Prysmian the construction of a 600 MW interconnection with Tunisia. Meanwhile, Spain and Morocco agreed in 2019 a third electrical interconnection, but to this day it still has not materialized. Yes, but. The conversion of North Africa into an energy hub is a promise full of official commitments, GW targets and billions of dollars on the table, but it is not an installed and operational capacity. And unfortunately, the region has a history of advertisements that fell flat, serve as an example the Desertec solar project. Without going any further, geopolitics is already leaving warnings of the complexity of the matter. On the other hand, there is the question of the price of green hydrogen: although in North Africa it is cheaper than in the rest of the world thanks to the sun, it still cannot compete with hydrogen from natural gas, which costs between 1 – 2 dollars per kg. According to a study by the Technical University of Munichonly a tiny fraction of African sites could approach competitive prices in 2030. Without subsidies, most projects are not profitable today. In Xataka | Russia turned off the tap and Europe looked south: the two pharaonic African gas pipelines that want to change the energy map Xataka | The first natural gas that does not depend on fossil sources is already a reality in Europe: it is manufactured in Extremadura by combining hydrogen and CO2 Cover | Matthew Henry and Anirudh

Today at Lidl this ice making machine that will save you from buying bags in supermarkets or gas stations this summer

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Although there are still a few days until summer officially begins, it is already hot almost everywhere. Whether we are alone at home or when a visitor comes, having ice cubes in the freezer becomes almost essential to have cool drinks. But this one ends and the molds that we all have in the freezer are not always enough (plus they take a long time to do their job). We have an alternative to avoid this with the ice cube machine that Lidl has: it is from the Silvercrest brand and costs 62.99 euros. Ice cube machine 105W The price could vary. We earn commission from these links If you are not convinced or you simply do not arrive on time, we leave you below two alternatives that you can buy on Amazon: Cecotec Ice Maker Machine by 89.80 eurosan alternative with more power and self-wash function. Songmics Cube Machine by 79.99 eurosthe best-selling machine of this type on Amazon right now. A machine to produce cubes in less than 10 minutes These appliances are a great ally in summer. They allow us to have different shapes of ice cubes without having to resort to the refrigerator freezer. This Silvercrest machine is capable of making 9 large ice cubes in less than 9 minutes, although we can choose to make 9 smaller ice cubes, thus reducing the time to 7 minutes. This is ideal for making batches and keeping them in bags in case we go to the beach, for example. Furthermore, this machine has its own built-in tank, so it does not need a water intake. In fact, since it is quite compact, you can take it to the patio or terrace if you have a plug on hand. It comes with a shovel to handle the ice comfortably and its control panel is quite intuitive, so it is not difficult to handle at all. ⚡ IN BRIEF: silvercrest ice cube offer ✅ THE BEST It is very fast making ice: Being able to have ice cubes in less than 10 minutes is great and saves you having to buy bags at the supermarket. You can move it to the garden or patio: Being compact and only needing a plug, you can move it around your house depending on what you need. ❌ THE WORST The basket is not a freezer: The basket where the ice that is generated is stored is not designed to store the cubes for hours. You have to take them out so they don’t melt. 💡 BUY IT IF… You usually consume a lot of ice in the summer and you want to avoid having to buy bags at the supermarket or gas station. ⛔ DON’T BUY IT IF… You don’t want another appliance for your kitchen or you have enough with the freezer at home. You may also be interested KeeGone Stainless Steel Ice Cube Machine with LED Display Cleaning Function 2 Liter Water Tank Includes Shovel and Basket 2 Sizes for Kitchen The price could vary. We earn commission from these links HOMCOM Ice Machine, Self-Cleaning Ice Cube Machine, 12kg/24H, 9 Cubes Ready in 7 Minutes, 2 Ice Sizes, 1.5L Tank, for Home, Kitchen, Office, Bar, Blue The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Lidl In Xataka | American refrigerator or 70 cm Combi? Be careful with making mistakes when buying liters that you may not be able to use In Xataka | Which home theater projector to buy, which is better?

the two pharaonic African gas pipelines that want to change the energy map

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The invasion of Ukraine in 2022 dynamited the foundations of European energy security. Before the conflict, Russia supplied between 40% and 45% of the European Union’s natural gas imports, injecting more than 155 billion cubic meters annually into the continent. Faced with the urgency of disconnecting from Moscow, Europe was looking for a place to fill its reserves again and the answer was in the south. To understand the magnitude of this shift, just look at what is happening on the ground. According to The Africa Reportunder the scorching sun of southern Algeria, the energy ministers of Algeria, Nigeria and Niger officially inaugurated the works of the gigantic Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP). It is not a project on paper; the pipes are already being welded. As detailed Al-Monitorthe Algerian state company Sonatrach has begun building a critical 1,210 kilometer stretch in the Aoulef region, which will connect Nigerian gas to the immense Hassi R’Mel field, a node that already has direct arteries to Europe. A question of survival. The European Union plans to end its dependence on Russian gas at the end of 2027. The arrival of a new corridor that provides 30 billion cubic meters of gas per year is a strategic lifeline. But for the African continent, the meaning is even deeper. It is about resolving a historical paradox: being a continent rich in energy but with serious deficiencies in local electricity access. According to an investigation published in the Journal of Geo-Energy and Environmentthe rival project, the Africa-Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP), could generate about $75 million annually in transit revenue for West African countries. Furthermore, these projects are designed so that a part of the gas stays in the transit countries, promoting their electrification, their industrial development and reducing the use of polluting biomass. The battle of the megaprojects. However, this energy awakening has unleashed a fierce geopolitical rivalry. As highlighted The Africa ReportAlgeria and Morocco are competing aggressively to become the exclusive “gateway” for Nigerian gas to Europe, spearheading two colossal megaprojects competing for international funding and European favor. On the table are two titans of engineering that promise to change the world map: The Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP): Led by Nigeria, Niger and Algeria. Business Insider details that it will measure 4,128 kilometers in length. It will cross the desert and it is estimated that its cost ranges between 13,000 million dollars and the 19.5 billion. With the works already started in Algeria, the Minister of Petroleum of Niger has confirmed that his country will begin to build its section of 720 kilometers at the beginning of 2027. The Africa-Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP / NMGP): The Moroccan alternative is even more pharaonic. With a length of between 5,600 and 7,000 kilometers, it will border the entire Atlantic coast, crossing 13 African countries. Its estimated cost amounts to about 25 billion dollars. How to finance infrastructure of this magnitude? academic research concludes thatAfter analyzing multiple strategies, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model is the most robust and viable path. This model makes it possible to mobilize the gigantic private capital necessary, transfer the risks of construction and operation, and at the same time ensure that local governments maintain fiscal benefits and employment development. The small print. Despite the euphoria, the obstacles are formidable. As you remember Al-Monitorthe trans-Saharan gas pipeline was conceived in the 1970s and has suffered decades of paralysis. Academic analyzes warn that the viability of the project is threatened by historical security risks in the Niger Delta, northern Niger and southern Algeria, coupled with political instability caused by recent coups in the Sahel region. Furthermore, there is an “elephant in the room”: the energy transition. Natural gas is seen as a transition fuel. So that these gas pipelines do not become stranded (obsolete) assets in the long term in the face of European climate policies, experts point out that they must be designed with operational flexibility. This includes “reverse flow” capability to redistribute energy southwards when Europe doesn’t need it, and even adapt infrastructure to transport green hydrogen in a decarbonized future. A new axis of power. The center of gravity of world energy is falling southward. Europe, cornered by geopolitics, desperately needs the stability of new suppliers; Africa, for its part, demands the investment and infrastructure it has historically been denied. The success of these thousands of kilometers of steel tubes, buried under the burning sands of the Sahara or submerged off the Atlantic coast, will decide much more than the temperature of European homes in the coming winters. The true historical challenge is not to demonstrate that the continent can turn on the northern lights, but to dare to invent a model where Africa stops exporting its wealth to import dependence. The ultimate goal is for African energy to belong to and transform, once and for all, its own people. Image | Unsplash Xataka | The first natural gas that does not depend on fossil sources is already a reality in Europe: it is manufactured in Extremadura by combining hydrogen and CO2

BYD’s plan so that charging your electric car takes the same time as stopping for gas

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In recent years we have seen how Chinese brands have begun to conquer Europe with the accelerator pressed, with BYD as the main protagonist. However, let us remember that BYD is not only a manufacturer of cars: it is also a manufacturer of batteries and charging technology. That is why he is going to bring out all the heavy artillery in Europe as well, with a plan of 2,000 million euros to plague the region of ultra fast chargersthose that charge their cars in five minutes and that the brand itself showed us during the presentation of the Denza Z9GT. Breaking down obstacles. Charging has historically been the Achilles heel of the electric car. Not so much because of the capacity of the batteries, but because of how long it takes to charge the batteries compared to a brief refueling in a combustion car. BYD aims directly at this psychological brake with its own infrastructure that equates recharging an electric car to filling the tank of a combustion car. If it manages to impose its infrastructure, it would eliminate one of the great barriers of those who are skeptical about the electric car. Technology. The system Flash Charging It uses chargers with up to 1,500 kW of power, three times more than the most modern Tesla Superchargers, which are around 500 kW. To make the most of it, the car must equip the second generation of the BYD Blade Batteryspecifically designed to withstand these extreme loads. With that combination, going from 10% to 70% battery takes five minutes. The first European model with this capacity is the Denza Z9GT, which we were already able to try first-hand last April and which has a starting price of 115,000 euros in its electric version, acting as a technological showcase for the brand. Already in the presentation we were also able to see how the car, in fact, only took about five minutes to reach 70% of its charge, although the infrastructure that the brand must put in place to reach those figures is no small feat. Numbers. The plan involves adding about 3,000 stations in Europe before the end of 2027, of which 600 correspond to the United Kingdom, where BYD has already inaugurated its first ultra-fast charging point. On the other hand, the manufacturer told us at the time that the idea in Spain is to start with about 200 or 300 chargers. “It’s a lot of money, with each charging point costing almost half a million pounds,” counted Stella Li, the group’s top international executive, told the Financial Times. How they avoid saturating the electrical grid. One of the technical challenges of very high-power chargers is the impact on the electrical infrastructure. BYD solves this with a system of stationary batteries installed at each charging point, which are recharged during hours of lower demand (normally early morning) and act as an energy reserve when a user connects their vehicle. Thus, the peak demand on the network is much lower. The real bottleneck. Curiously, the main obstacle is neither technical nor economic. Bono Ge, head of BYD in the United Kingdom, counted to the FT that “the challenge does not lie in the infrastructure, but in the speed with which the town councils can give their authorization. We can implement it very quickly.” Technological showcase. The move is very reminiscent of Tesla’s Supercharger network, which was key in its commercial expansion by minimizing that recurring thought of having to recharge the car on long trips. Europe already has extensive networks, in fact Tesla has about 20,000 points on the continent, but BYD is betting on fewer and much more powerful stations. The idea is to continue expanding its technology, and make it so that other vehicles can also use their chargers, regardless of the manufacturer. BYD’s market share in the EU has already risen from 0.8% to 1.9% in the first four months of 2026, according to data from the European automobile association ACEA, and in the United Kingdom it reaches 3.4%, above Renault and Volvo. In Xataka | The best electric car chargers 2026: Which one to buy and six recommended models

AI has caused the collapse of even a non-AI industry: gas turbines

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When everyone runs away, Meta’s former CTO stays. While the majority of Silicon Valley investors have abandoned the C thesisfile Tech —tired of promises that do not turn into real business—, Mike Schroepfer just announced that it has raised 250 million dollars to do exactly the opposite. Its background, Gigascale Capitalhas closed its first round with institutional investors to back founders who, in their own words, are “rebuilding the brick-and-mortar economy.” The news comes at a time when the climate technology sector has a difficult reputation. As explained TechCrunch, “Conventional wisdom” has been soured by the “Climate Tech” label. Schroepfer, known in the industry simply as Schrepis challenging the market consensus. Or as the same media describes it: “Zigging when most are zagging” (zigzagging when everyone goes in the other direction). Does this bet make sense? First of all, we must understand the underlying problem: gas turbines, the most conventional electricity generation system that exists, currently have a waiting list that extends until the early 2030s. It is not that there is a lack of green technology, it is that there is simply a lack of energy. And companies trying to connect to the electrical grid are finding it increasingly difficult. The person responsible. And the question is, who has accelerated that demand to this point? Artificial intelligence. The sector has undergone a structural change in recent years, driven precisely by the energy demands of AI. Data centers consume huge amounts of electricity and networks cannot cope. Faced with this situation, many companies are trying to generate their own electricity. As Schroepfer himself notedthe “bring your own energy” model (Bring-Your-Own-Power) will become a decisive competitive advantage in intensive industries. But there is no easy path there either: even traditional turbines have a waiting list. As Pulse 2.0 detailsaccelerated electrification, industrial relocation, AI deployment and increasingly extreme climate events are simultaneously putting pressure on physical infrastructure that has been aging for decades. The business of scarcity. The company, Gigascale, was founded in 2023 by Schroepfer along with Victoria Beasley and Evaline Tsai. The fund emerges from a process that the former Meta executive describes as a systematic study of the climate sector during the pandemic. In three years they have built a portfolio of more than 25 companies in areas ranging from clean energy and grid infrastructure to critical minerals, advanced manufacturing and what they call “physical AI”: applications of artificial intelligence to design, manufacture and deploy real-world systems. Schroepfer’s investment logic does not pivot on environmental virtue, but on competitiveness. Their argument is the following: solar went from producing 40 gigawatts a year to 600 in a decade because it became cheaper. “The companies we support win because they are cheaper, faster and more reliable. This is how adoption scales. Climate impact is the result of systems that work better,” declared in a statement. When the waiting list is the opportunity. The fund’s portfolio already has specific names that illustrate this philosophy: New energy generation: Commonwealth Fusion Systems and Xcimer Energy (which achieved the first flash of its commercial laser system in late 2025) are working to make nuclear fusion a reality. For its part, Radiant is moving toward one of the first commercial deployments of nuclear microreactors in the United States. Infrastructure for AI: Arbor Energy has signed an agreement with GridMarket to supply up to 5 gigawatts of clean, zero-emissions energy to data centers. In parallel, Fractile announced a $136 million expansion to manufacture AI processors specifically designed to reduce electricity consumption. Circular and industrial economy: Heron Power, founded by Drew Baglino – former Tesla vice president for propulsion and energy division – develops industrial power electronics. In addition, companies like Dioxycle have signed multi-year agreements with giants like L’Oréal to convert captured CO₂ emissions into ethylene to make packaging. There is an underlying irony. The world has been debating for years how to decarbonize for environmental reasons. And it turns out that the catalyst that is making the transformation of the energy system urgent and inevitable is not any climate summit: it is Artificial Intelligence. As investors flee the label Climate Tech Considering it too ideological or unprofitable, the demand for energy is so brutal that not even the most conventional gas turbines can cope. The opportunity exists precisely because the problem is real. And Schroepfer, who comes from building the systems that consume that energy, is very clear about it. Image | Unsplash Xataka | From “tokenmaxxing” we have moved on to “tokenwasting”: the level of waste in AI is reaching unprecedented levels

In Zambia, gas bubbles in hot springs point to an unusual birth: a new tectonic plate

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In 2005, the floor of the Afar Desert in Ethiopia suddenly opens up along more than 50 kilometers in just a few days after an intense seismic and volcanic sequence. For many geologists, that image was like observing in real time the type of fracture that, in millions of years, could end. creating a new ocean. Zambia has just given the most serious warning. Bubbles as an almost unequivocal sign. In Zambia, simple bubbles emerging from hot springs have begun to reveal something much bigger than a local geothermal phenomenon. Scientists at the University of Oxford believe have found signs that the southern African subsoil could be entering an early phase continental fracturea geological process so slow that it is imperceptible for human life, but so gigantic that it can end up rdrawing entire maps. The key is in the helium detected in the thermal springs of the Kafue Rift: Its isotopic composition contains too much helium-3, a chemical marker directly associated with the Earth’s mantle. Translated into less technical language, it means that fluids from dozens of kilometers beneath the crust are finding ways to ascend to the surface. And that, for geologists, is an extremely serious sign that the African crust could be starting to break down from within. A silent crack beneath the continent. Rifts are not simple faults or isolated earthquakes. They are areas where the lithosphere begins to stretch and weaken until, in some cases, it ends separating into tectonic plates different. Most never make it that far and remain an unfinished geological scar, but the Kafue Rift presents something that changes the scene: a active connection between the mantle and the surface. The researchers analyzed gases from eight wells and hot springs, six within the suspected area and two outside it to compare results. Only within the rift did they appear associated chemical signatures to the deep interior of the Earth. In addition to helium, they also detected carbon dioxide with characteristics typical of mantle fluids. For scientists, this suggests that the fracture is no longer solely superficial and that the system could be entering into a tectonic phase more advanced than previously thought. Location map of the extensional zone within the Central African Plateau of Zambia. The Kafue Rift is connected to the Luano and Luangwa rifts to the northeast, and to the western branch of the EARS in the Rukwa rift (RRB) and the Rungwe Volcanic Province (RVP) The possible birth of a new plate. The hypothesis is especially relevant because the Kafue Rift is part of a huge strip of geological weakness about 2,500 kilometersone that crosses Africa from Tanzania to Namibia. For years, many researchers had considered that the great candidate to divide the continent was the East African Rift, in Kenya and Ethiopia, where volcanic and tectonic activity is much more visible. However, the new study of Oxford researchers suggests that the southwest African system could have important structural advantages. According to Mike Dalythe natural crustal weaknesses in that region are better aligned with the tectonic forces acting around Africa, which would reduce the resistance needed for future continental breakup. In other words, the Zambian bubbles could be signaling the extremely slow birth of a new African tectonic plate. The continent moves, even if you don’t notice it. The investigation It also serves as a reminder that Earth is still a planet geologically alive. Hundreds of millions of years ago, all continents were part of Pangea before slowly breaking up into their current shape. That process never stopped. Beneath our feet, tectonic plates continue to shift, recycling minerals, raising mountain ranges and opening new oceans. Africa is today one of the places where this dynamic can best be observed. From the Afar Depression to the East African Rift, the continent already presents huge tectonic scars visible from space. What is happening in Zambia could be an additional piece of that continental puzzle, although scientists insist that we are talking about time scales of millions of years and not immediate changes. A geological fracture… and economic opportunity. Beyond scientific fascination, the discovery It has very real economic implications. Early rift systems typically offer relatively clean access to geothermal energy and gases valuable substances such as helium and hydrogen, increasingly important for the technology and energy industry. Unlike mature volcanic zones, where fluids appear mixed with more aggressive and difficult to handle gases, in Kafue the material from the mantle still arrives relatively “pure”. In fact, that is precisely the reason why several energy companies already They are funding research in the region. The problem is that the authors of the study themselves they ask for caution: The samples come from only a specific part of the system and it remains to be seen whether these signals are repeated throughout the entire fracture. But even with caution, the idea is so powerful that it is already on the table: in Zambia, the bubbles that silently emerge from a hot spring could be announcing the beginning of a continental separation that will one day change Africa forever. Image | PexelsDaly et al., 2020 7 Legg, 1974; Tamburello et al., 2022 / R. Karolytė et al. 2026 In Xataka | We thought we were clear about how the continents were formed, until researchers found a stone in Australia In Xataka | More than 5 million earthquakes spread throughout the Earth, gathered in a very complete map

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