gas

Europe is caught in gas contracts with Russia. Now look for a way to break them without paying the price

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This winter has ended with an alarming fact for gas in Europe: German reserves are practically empty, 7% of their capacity. Energy expert Javier Blas He explained That the winter of 2024-25 has left the very low gas inventories, and the cost to fill the natural reservoir of Rehden amounts to almost 2,000 million euros. In addition, the continent has entered the discount timesince the European Union has demanded that the deposits be filled at 90% before November 1. However, the European Union has made a decision to close the door forever to the dependence of Russian gas. Close the tap to Russia. From Brussels different legal routes are being explored so that European companies can terminate long -term Russian gas contracts without paying large fines to Moscow. According to Financial Timesthe European Commission has been studying the possibility of declaring force majeure to terminate contractual obligations and not have to pay additional rates. The Russian supply. After three years of war that still persists, this situation has caused a great energy crisis in Europe, reducing its dependence on Russian gas. Currently, the Kremlin supply represents 11% of the block compared to almost two fifths at the beginning of the conflict, such as They have detailed in the British environment. From a more economical vision, the EU paid 21.9 billion euros Russia for oil and gas between February 2024 and February 2025, According to the Clean Energy and Air Research Center. And they continue to depend. Russian liquefied natural gas volumes (LNG) They have increased significantly In the last three years. In addition, Russia has continued to export gas disguised under azeri flag or through relations with two member countries, Hungary and Slovakiawhich has generated tensions within the EU. As He has pointed out The Financial Times, there are important ports such as those of France, Spain and Belgium that continue to receive loads of Russian LNG, showing the complexity of cutting energy ties immediately. Until two years. The European Commission has promised a final roadmap to completely cut energy ties with Russia before 2027. Although its publication has already been delayed twice, the document is expected for May 6, According to Reuters. This delay responds to the conversations reactivated by the United States about the future of the Nordstream gas pipeline, which connects Germany and Russia. The project has gained importance amid the efforts of the Trump administration, since they want look for an approach that implies them in gas transmission. Exploring alternatives … The commission, that He has denied To comment to the Financial Times, you are looking for new supplies. United States, which It takes time exporting LNG to Europehas been profiled as the largest supplier and is seen as a viable replacement. However, with the tariff war in dispute Everything will be to see. But there is an unexpected exit. Continuing with the tariffs, which have been intensified in A bilateral war Between China and the United States. The Asian giant He has found A strategic opportunity: take advantage of contracts signed with American gas to resell it to Europe. This phenomenon has exposed how the global mechanisms of energy trade do not respond to political strategies, but to market logics. An uncertain future. Although the date is marked in 2027, the road map has already suffered several delays and remains surrounded by political and commercial unknowns. In addition, the growing tension with the United States and The lack of a really solid energy plan they leave a European Union corrula, reacting too late before the agency with Russia. Image | Brian Cantoni Xataka | The price of gas has already reached 2022 levels. Now the European industry depends on one thing: that the cold does not return

25% tariffs on cars are already translated into dismissals and plants at medium gas in Mexico

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One has a thousand ways of Spanish to search synonyms to talk about threats and continuing notices. That of “the wolf”, the pitcher and the fountain, to pull the rope … It will not be for stories, word games or metaphors. Exactly that is the risk that is run with the tariff war that Donald Trump has opened. Since he arrived at the White House, the new president of the United States does not stop launch threats of new tariffsincendiary messages against their own allies (or those that were considered allies until not so long) and more and more statements in which The same is attacked to Europeans than Mexicans and Canadians. And, along the way … little or nothing applicable. Because although the United States applies since April 2 A 25% tariff on cars that pass through their borders and the pieces that help manufacture them, as well as steel and aluminum (also Keys in the automotive industry). The caraded tariffs to these two neighboring countries They are suspended. On April 2 tariffs have been announced to almost the entire world. They should Enter into force on April 9. Yes, we talk about 20% of tariff to any European product and even the 10% tariff applied to an uninhabited island. Or at least Only inhabited by penguins and seals. But along the way, China has already sent a notice: if the tariffs continue, if there is no possible conversation, They will impose back 34% of tariffs to American products. It is the most forceful response that the United States has received so far. But it is not the only one. Because so much threat has consequences. Canada and Mexico already prove how their automotive industry can go through many problems. Some, in fact, are already specifying. The first consequences Until now, Canada and Mexico had been commercial partners. To the point that the Inflation reduction law promoted by the government of Joe Biden that prioritized tax incentives to companies that produced in the United States also contemplated that part of the production would take these two countries. In either of them it occurs A very high volume vehicular. Except Tesla (produces all its cars there) and Ford (77% of what it produces is manufactured in the United States). The rest import vehicles in a much higher amount. General Motors, for example, produces 30% in Canada and Mexico. Nissan 31% and Toyota 27%. With the aim of counteracting the coup, Canada has announced that it will also impose 25% of tariffs on US cars that do not comply with the T-MEC free trade agreement. Both countries, together with Mexico, had been subject to a reciprocal agreement for 60 years so as not to pay tariffs on the import and export of vehicles and promote a connected automotive industry. To understand to what extent the new relationship is complicated, in BBC They explain with a map the complex process since a piston of an engine is born until it is introduced into the cylinder. On the way, the piece crosses the United States to Canada, from Canada passes to Mexico and from Mexico returns to the United States where, it is finally mounted. Impose round trip tariffs It will make a product that has its consequences on employment and the volume of cars sold. Stellantis is one of the companies that has announced drastic measures. The first, the temporary retirement of 900 employees in the United States. They are people distributed by five floors that will cease their work assembling motor trains and trains for a decrease in production as a cause of tariffs. In addition, another 4,500 employees will be sent home in Ontario (Canada), where their factory will remain closed for two weeks. Mexico does not get rid because its Toluca plant (2,400 employees) will also be closed throughout the month of April. Despite being the least affected (taking into account exclusively the production of cars and not so much where the pieces they use), Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, already warned in February that “a 25% tariff at the borders with Mexico and Canada would open a hole in the US industry as we have never seen,” they collect in The New York Times. These pieces are, without a doubt, the part that most directly affects Spain. Our country had an important commercial partner in the United States when selling parts to produce cars. There 4% of them are exported but, above all, they take air to the paths that the trade war will take in Mexico where a good part of The largest Spanish companies are settled. The other way is to make the products more expensive, move there part of their production or, directly get them out. The latter is what they value in Mercedes that can Stop selling your Mercedes Gla. Small cars are more complicated to make profitable and would not be competitive if they face a 25%tariff. Volkswagen is in an extremely complicated position. 43% of their sales for the United States arrive from Canada and Mexico. Another 36% produce it in Europe, mainly. Only 21% of their sales there are produced within their borders. An option raised is to bring the most profitable vehicles to the plants they already have in the country. For the moment, Automotive News He assures that the German company has already ordered to stop its shipments from Mexico and Europe. And Toyota, who was already reducing its production, has also ordered to reduce the working hours at its Guanajuato (Mexico) plant, they point out in Bloomberg. The same path leads in Honda, where they also have conversations to reduce their production and, therefore, send workers home even if it is temporarily. Photo | Honda and Luis Ramirez In Xataka | The Spanish car will not suffer with 25% of the United States tariffs but with its consequences: a poorest Europe

extract your own natural gas

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In the last two decades, China It has become in the largest importer of the world of natural gas (LNG). However, in a drastic turn of the event, the Asian giant will stop depending on the gas of others. This change will have consequences in the world market. Short. Large Chinese oil companies, such as Sinopec, CNOOC and Petrochina have put the focus on expanding their internal gas production, focusing on deeper perforations and the development of shale gas resources, such as have explained in Bloomberg. This new path responds to the deceleration of oil demand, the rise of electric vehicles and the growth of internal gas production, which would affect the projections of large international energy companies. New exploration in China. The three great Chinese oil companies are making significant investments in deep drilling, both on land and on the high seas. As has had access OilpriceThey are intensifying the exploitation of shale gas deposits, with notable advances in the Sichuan basin, and are also exploring deeper seas in search of new reserves. In the same medium it has been detailed that Petrochina He is drilling wells 10,000 meters deep to access gas and oil resources in complex rock formations. It will not be easy. This movement towards energy self -sufficiency raises several challenges, since the extraction of shale gas in China is between complex geological formations, which increases production costs. Nevertheless, as explained in Bloombergthe plans to obtain gas are already underway and they will not stop them. In check the global production. International companies such as Shell, Exxonmobil and Totalenergies had planned an increase in their LNG exports to China, waiting for the country to be the largest consumer. However, this change of plans by the Asian giant to produce more gas internally and depend less on imports will affect global supplies, altering the projections of large oil companies, According to Oilprice. And what will happen in Europe? The month of April has not begun very well in gas for Europe, since reserves have been left to zero, According to Bloomberg. However, the new change in gas consumption policies in China could be beneficial for the old continent, who needs to start fill their gas reserves. However, the situation remains uncertain. As Oilprice has pointed outalthough there would be more available gas, the competition for the LNG is still high, and logistics infrastructure to distribute it may not be completely adapted to these changes. This could affect Europe’s capacity to access that excess gas in time and lower prices. Forecasts. The projections indicate that, with the increase in internal production and the rise of electric vehicles, the need for LNG imports of China could decrease in the coming years. For this reason, there may be a drop in imports, which would affect the decisions of global gas producers. However, the current energy panorama is marking by Many geopolitical tensions They will affect oil. Recently, there has been an important change in the sector, with OPEC+, the United States and China involved in a complex situation. As has detailed the New York Timestariff policies and energy strategies are intertwining, which alters the flow of resources and causes greater uncertainty in crude oil markets, affecting the price of fuel worldwide. Image | Asian Development Bank (Flickr, CC BY-DC -nd 2.0) Xataka | In its effort to extract oil, China is beating records: it has drilled a well -deep well

In the emptied Galicia there are municipalities taking care of gas stations and shops. THE OBJECTIVE: Don’t run out of services

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The Emptied Spain It is depopulated Spain, but also the one that is emptied from companies and services. Both, the Lack of neighbors And the absence of businesses that cover their most basic needs, are part of the same vicious circle that in the long run the peoples to abandonment. In Galicia They have decided Breaking that loop with a curious movement. To avoid running out of supermarkets or gas stations there are municipalities that are taking care of their management. The objective: that the neighbors should not move kilometers for something as simple as buying the bread. Even at the cost of the City Council itself assume private services. The ghost of depopulation. The depopulation He is one of the great ghosts of the rural of Spain. And Galicia is no exception. A few months ago his Consello de Contas He issued A report in which he warned that in the community (especially in the provinces of Lugo and Ourense) there are almost a hundred towns in ‘danger of extinction’, a status that is explained by a combination of factors: a register below the 5,000 inhabitants, a low population density (less than 20%) and more deaths than births. INE himself calculates that in 2021 there were almost 25,700 Gallegos residing in municipalities that do not pass from the thousand registered. According to his nomenclator, in the community there are also around 1,900 depopulated villagesmany of them in Lugo. Only in 2023 it is estimated that the province lost about 40. Other populations are still alive but with a handful of hundreds of neighbors and having lost much in a short time. To name a case, Murasin the Terra Cha, I had 1,151 neighbors In 2000. In 2024 were 600. A vicious circle. We commented before. The localities of emptied Spain do not remain alone without neighbors. They often do it also without businesses that cover their needs. And one and the other, that of inhabitants and services, feed a vicious circle that ends up accelerating the emptying of the peoples. Although there is experts That they conclude that at general “accessibility to services” in Spain is good, especially if we talk about health and education, they also recognize that differences arise when the provincial scale is lowered. A quick search arrives on Google to find Complaints of populations about the public transport or lack of something as simple as bars and shops. And how to solve it? A question similar to that was asked a while ago in Pol and Ribeira de Piquíntwo localities of the rural of the province of Lugo that together barely go from the 2,000 residents. The first, Pol, has 1,542 registered, 27% less than in 2000. The second, Ribeira de Piquín, had about 500 residents, 80% less than at the beginning of this century. Both municipalities share Another featurein addition to the province and a diminishing census: given the loss of basic businesses their respective municipalities have decided to step forward and guarantee the continuity of private services. A kind of municipalization which aims to prevent your neighbors from having to look for life for issues as basic as buying bread. Their cases have attracted the interest of media such as The voice of Galicia either Eldiario. A “municipal” supermarket. In the case of Pol the Consistory he found the risk that The only supermarket From the town, located in the population of Mosterio, closed. Its owner retired and in the absence of relief or other shopkeepers that would like to transfer it, the panorama was complicated for the neighbors who reside there. “No one was interested in carrying it. It was deserted,” explained in December Its mayor, Lino Rodríguez, Progress. The City Council solution: Buy the super To keep it open. It is not yet known How will it manage, through a foundation, attracting a franchise or with an autonomous, but the goal is clear: to guarantee the continuity of the service. “We acquired the entire block, which has an area of ​​about 800 m2, for a total of 150,000 euros,” Rodríguez added In December. The project went ahead with the support of the Diputación and aspires to go beyond trade: Pol wants to recover an old sausage mark and create social housing at the top. At the end of last year the town had already paid 75,000 euros for the premises, it hoped to pay a similar sum of 2025 and already thought about furniture and facilities to serve customers. “We need to acquire the material goods of the interior, such as refrigerators, freezers and cold cameras. But throughout 2025 we will try to prepare the charcería,” He reported. OBJECTIVE: Refers in the town. In Ribeira de Piquín, the City Council has also moved to preserve a key service, although in this case the focus is on a gas station. At the end of 2024 the Consistory was in process for rent an already built service area but it carries more than a decade closed The idea is reopen it in 2025 and that the neighbors do not have to move to another town to replace or look for fuel. The project is carried out through the Terreo Foundationparticipated by the City Council, and with support of the Diputación de Lugo, which provides funds through an agreement. The rent will be done through a direct award procedure, Precise Progressand once completed the idea of ​​the City Council is to adapt the station to the regulations to register it. In the budget they also reserve funds to hire full -time personnel who can take care of the suppliers and serve users. Is it an isolated case? No. The gas station will not be the only (or first) project that is promoted with the terreo lever. Before it was launched A fish farma livestock exploitation and even a kiwi plantation. “The municipalities as small as we have many difficulties for the private initiative to come and invest. Hence we have no other option … Read more

Gas in record prices with reservations trembling

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We started the month of March and, in the southwest area of ​​Europe, The rains are going to be persistent This month. In a nutshell, the cold is not going to go so fast and we will have to face it with something fundamental in many homes: gas. However, lighting the stove will involve a challenge because gas reserves in Europe are on the verge of freezing. Crisis in Europe. The year began with Russia Cutting the gas supply To Europe, which was circulating through Ukraine. This has caused Europe to have to depend of the American LNGQatarí and Australian, as well as Turkstream Gas Pipeline. However, what really worries is the state of gas reserves, which are 35-40% of their capacity against The price increase and demand for increasingly cold climatic conditions. Reservations. The European Union has several times brought breast certifying that They did not have to depend more on Russia or what The reservations were enough. However, the data has something else to say: gas deposits in Europe They are 35-40% of their maximum capacitya much lower level than previous years that reached between 55-60% at the same time of the year. This situation has resulted from the sum of many factors, such as the loss of Russian supply, a especially cold winter and the lack of renewable generation by he Dunkelflaute. In addition, EU storage policies They have distorted the marketsince the imposed objectives force countries to buy gas at the same time, which raises prices and discouraging from Traders to accumulate reservations during the summer. The problems. After encounter between Zelensky and Trump On February 28, where I don’t know has reached any agreementinternational political tension remains latent. This episode leaves a key uncertainty in the air: if the relationship between the United States and Europe is affected, the American LNG dependence becomes an even greater risk. Europe has been increasingly trusting LNG imports, especially from the United States, as a key source to replace its gas reserves. If the US GNL supply is interrupted or conditioned by political or economic issues, the EU could face a serious gas scarcity. Start opening windows. As the saying says: “When a door closes …”, something like that should be considered in Europe because for next winter the reserves do not know if they will be able to complete, but it has much to offer in clean energy. First, repair the electrical infrastructure because with more than 40 years is time to change it. Then research and implementations in some countries of other alternative energies are paying off, such as The case of Spain and Portugal. Thirdly, start bet on geothermia In countries with colder or even Biomethane. Forecasts. Last night, in England, European leaders They congregated with Zelensky to demonstrate his support to the Ukrainian President and consolidate the unity around the crisis in Ukraine. However, this meeting underlines the fragility of the energy situation in Europe, since any alteration in international relations can translate into a supply problem. Given an increasingly uncertain scenario, the question is whether Europe will get ahead of problems or continue to depend on external factors to guarantee its energy safety. Next winter will be the definitive test: either the energy sources are diversified and the infrastructure is reinforced or the continent will be on the edge of the collapse again. Image | Pxhere Xataka | The US believes to have a “treasure” with the rare earths of Ukraine. Everything is born from a outdated Soviet report 50 years ago

The EU spent more in Russian oil and gas that in helping Ukraine

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They are fulfilled three years since Russia began its invasion In Ukraine. During this time, The economic impact is still deep In both countries. Although general attention has been logically focused on human suffering, these days economic figures have been disclosed that reveal the magnitude of the damage: Ukraine records An annual inflation of 12%, while in Russia it reaches 9.5%. Numbers that show the persistence of economic deterioration on both sides. And next to this, another fact: Europe has invested more in Russia than in Ukraine. The “dependence” to Russia. A recent Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA): The European Union has allocated More money to the purchase of Russian fossil fuels than to direct financial support granted to Ukraine During the third year of the conflict caused by the Russian invasion. According to the analysis presented on the occasion of the third anniversary of the war, the EU spent approximately 21.9 billion euros in Russian oil and gas Only in the last year of conflict, significantly higher than The 18.7 billion euros delivered to Ukraine In financial aid for 2024, according to data from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IFW Kiel). The data has many readings, but the main one is paradoxical, since the situation highlights a deep contradiction between the European verbal support to Ukraine and the concrete economic actions that indirectly benefit the Vladimir Putin regime, providing essential income to sustain its military campaign. Historical figures and comparisons. The numbers are even more striking when the total expenditure on Russian fossil fuels by Europe is observed throughout the last year (2024), which exceeded 39% the financial aid assigned to Ukraine. In addition, the report emphasizes that Russia has obtained global income equivalent to 242,000 million euros only for energy exports During the third full year of the conflict, bringing their total profits from the beginning of the invasion to figures near the billion euros. In other words, European agency is especially critical when considering that Russia receives up to half of its fiscal income directly from the energy sector. The economist Christoph Trebesch of the IFW Kiel, although he did not participate directly in the analysis, The surprising gap remarked between the help mobilized for Ukraine and the economic support granted in previous historical conflicts. For example, Germany was considerably more generous during Kuwait’s liberation (1990-1991) compared to the provisions of Ukraine so far, measured proportionally in terms of national GDP. Consequences of energy dependence. The data leads to the same conclusion: the report underlines how this unit follows indirectly promoting war in Ukraine by economically sustaining the Russian government. Vaibhav Raghunandan, co -author of the study, explicitly declared that buying Russian fossil fuels It is practically equivalent to finance the Kremlinfacilitating the continuity of his military aggression. In addition, the Russia’s ability to overcome sanctions economic imposed by the West through its so -called “shadow fleet”of which We have spoken before (A fleet of old ships) allows the country to maintain approximately one third of its income from fossil fuel exports. The European response: sanctions and challenges. It is the last of the legs to be treated: what does Europe do? In reaction to these realities, European ambassadors recently approved new measures in its 16th round of sanctions against Russiadirected specifically against that “shadow fleet.” The report also warns that, strengthening existing sanctions and closing some legal gaps, The EU could reduce Russian income up to 20% from these fuels. In particular, he recommends close the so -called “refinement lagoon” (Through which Europe can acquire Russian oil processed in third countries), as well as even more restricting the Russian gas flow Through the Turkstream gas pipeline. In addition, the report indicates another emerging problem in European energy trade: The growing dependence on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG). Although The EU has considerably reduced imports Russian gas channeled since the beginning of the conflict, partially compensated this decrease through greater imports of Russian LNG, which reached record figures in 2022, placing Russia as The second most important exporter From this type of gas to Europe. The war three years later. I counted in A report the Guardian On the economy of both countries since the beginning of the conflict that, in a Moscow key, traditional economic indicators seem to favor Russia. Although initially the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) fell -1.3%, has shown a solid recovery in the last two years, growing at 3.6% annual according to data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Instead, the Ukrainian economy suffered a dramatic collapse of 36% in mid -2022, closing that year with a 28.3% drop. Although Ukraine has managed to partially recover with growth rates of 5.3% in 2023 and 3% in 2024, its national income still remains 20% below the levels prior to invasion. Resiliation and perspectives. Despite adversities, Ukraine resilience has been remarkable. Christopher Dent, professor of international economy, argues that Ukraine has better long -term perspectives of what Russian propaganda affirms. A concrete example is the recovery of the Ukrainian electricity sector, which after The attack on the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station in 2023 (which caused losses of at least 2 billion dollars), has significantly increased its electrical exports to Moldova, Hungary and Romania, integrating more closely into the European energy network. Maritime trade through the Black Sea and the Danube continues to work, and agriculture also shows clear signs of recovery. The future potential of Ukraine also lies in its wide mineral resources, including metal deposits valued at about 11 billion dollars. On the other hand, tax collection has improved substantially, with significant increases in corporate taxes and consumptionalso supported by international IMF and Western agencies. Bad? On the other sidewalk and despite these advances, the Ukrainian economy faces huge structural challenges. The most important: the labor market remains negatively affected, with An unemployment rate of 16.8%aggravated by mass migration abroad and mandatory military recruitment. The adaptibility of Russia. For its part, Moscow, Despite international isolationhas demonstrated a … Read more

There is a cosmic network of “roads” formed by gas and dark matter filaments. We have just captured it from Chile

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We know well that matter is not distributed in a form of all homogeneous throughout the observable universe. The galaxies like the one we live are great clusters of matter in which the stars are born and died, and with them other objects such as planets and asteroids. However, that is only part of the story. In sight. A group of researchers has achieved Capture directly and in “high definition” an image of the so -called cosmic network, a network of gas filaments that extend throughout millions of light years in the intergalactic space. He has done it from the VLT, the large telescope that the Southern European Observatory has installed in Chile. A cosmic network. The subject in the universe is not only concentrated in the galaxies. Moreover, the subject distributed in intergalactic space plays a fundamental role in the structure of our cosmos. Physical interactions lead to this matter to be distributed in an interesting way. He does it In immense filamentsgas clouds that form an immense network that connects the galaxies around it. The gas that accumulates in this network of “cosmic highways” is the one that feeds the stars of the bright galaxies located at the intersections of this network. Huge, and almost invisible. In addition to the gas that feeds the stars, dark matter also plays an important role in the structuring of this network as indicated by the team responsible for this new image. Observing this dark matter is impossible today, but capturing the gas columns that accompany it, the “star fuel”, is possible. Hundreds of hours. Overcome this difficulty Requires dedicationeven for our most powerful telescopes. That is why capturing this image required hundreds of hours of observation by the VLT (Vary Large Telescope), The telescope of the European Observatory (ESO) installed in the Atacama desert, in Chile. The team resorted to the Muse instrument (Multi–Unit Spectroscopic Explorer), An advanced spectrograph installed in the Chilean telescope. The details of the process were published In an article In the magazine Nature Astronomy. In the image, in color, the diffuse gas that extends around and between the remarked galaxies can be seen. Davide Tornotti/University of Milano-Bicocca. Three million light years. The team used ultraprecisous data compiled by the telescope to create the most clear image ever achieved by one of the filaments that make up the cosmic network. The filament in question extends over three million light years and Connect two distant galaxieseach of them with its own supermassive black hole. “By capturing the dim light emitted by this filament, which has traveled for just under 12,000 million years to reach the Earth, we are able to accurately characterize its form,” Explain in a press release Davide Tornotti, co -author of the study. The team also highlights that the accuracy of the new data has allowed “Draw the border” between the gas of the galaxies themselves and all the subject that we associate with this cosmic web. And all through direct measurements. Validate the theory. In his study, the team used these direct observations to test the theoretical cosmological models. And with a positive result: “When comparing it to the new high definition image, we find a substantial agreement between theory and observations,” Tornotti indicated. Even so, the team also points out that they will continue working on the study of these structures. “One is none,” that is, with the image of one of these elements, it is not enough to draw generalizable conclusions about these key structures for our cosmos but as unknown as the filaments that make up the cosmic network. In Xataka | Is our Milky Way a zombie galaxy and we without knowing it? Image | Alejandro Benitez-Llambay/University of Milano-Bicocca/MPa/Davide Tornotti/University of Milano-Bicocca

There is no reason why the price of light rises. There is a storm of reasons and are related to gas

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Europe does not leave one to get into another. Why has the price of light uploaded this time? Beyond that we have returned to the VAT of 21% in the light invoice, if you have noticed an increase in the price of electricity and gas lately it is for the delicate moment that the natural gas industry lives again in Europe. The perfect storm of gas. This is how They call analysts To a confluence of factors in the gas industry that has the unfortunate European consumers suffering the consequences on the electricity bill. Regulatory measures that come to an end, a sudden reconfiguration of supply routes and the increase in demand for wind shortage have generated a scenario in which electricity prices have firing again, affecting both homes and To industries. Goodbye to the top in the price. More than two years ago that the European Union established a stop at the price of gas as an emergency measure to counteract speculation and relieve the crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. That mechanism expired on January 31so now the reality is different. Much of Europe has started the month of February heating with gas, but without a “firewall” that slows the expense, a situation that has raised criticism of several Eurodiputados. Italy in particular asked to reconsider or adjust the threshold so that consumers do not pay excessive prices. Total interruption of Russian gas. At the same time, the energy relationship between Europe and Russia has not gone to better. The Total gas traffic interruption Through Ukraine, an agreement that since 1991 allowed Moscow to supply the continent, has left several countries in a vulnerability situation. One of the most affected countries It is Moldovawhich is not yet part of the EU block. Although the dependence on Russian gas is getting smaller, the supply maintained relative stability throughout the region. The new gas routes. Given the disappearance of the traditional route, Europe has had to resort to alternatives such as Liquefied natural gas that comes to us by ship from the United StatesCatar and Australia, or the limited use of gas pipelines such as Turkstream. These sources allow to maintain the flow of energy in exchange for a much higher cost than the gas transported by land, which translates into rates of up to 50 euros per megavatio hour and, therefore, a direct rise in the prices of the prices of the prices of the light. A WINDER WITHOUT WIND. The impact is aggravated in the electricity sector, where the demand for gas for generation has reached historical levels. The most flagrant case It happened in Germany because of the famous Dunkelflautebut the analyst Pedro Cantuel He points out that Spain registered in December 2024 the highest demand in ten years. And reservations going down. The last edge of this scenario are gas deposits. Point out Bloomberg that storage levels in key countries such as France and the Netherlands are below the objectives set by the European Commission, adding a layer of uncertainty for next winter. The Difficulty replenishing these storesaggravated by summer contracts with high prices, it is a real risk for the security of the supply that has ended up affecting, like everything else, on the electricity bill. Image | Endesa In Xataka | Forget the industrial revolution: the fastest energy change in human history is happening now In Xataka | 2025 is the beginning of the end for gas boilers in Spain. European regulations have started its long withdrawal

The EU has finally become independent of Russian gas. Now faces an equal uncertain dependence: the US LNG

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In the last five years, the supply of liquefied natural gas in Europe depended mainly on Russian reservesrepresenting almost 40% of imports thanks to their competitive prices and an extensive network of gas pipelines. However, Europe has sought to reduce the dependence on Russian gas by the Ukraine War, facing an uncertain energy panorama. Also, still imports Russian LNG record amounts By boat and Hungary and Slovakia oppose restrictive measures. The reserves, which had reached historical levels before winter thanks to storage policies, are now beginning to descend. Given this situation, Europe has chosen to diversify its sources and increase LNG imports from other countries, being the United States one of the emerging suppliers. However, this transition will not be easy. Short. At the time he assumed, in less than 24 hours, Donald Trump signed an executive order with the different measures that Ipso facto was going to take. In addition, the issue of gas and tariffs to Europe comes before assumingbut now the president of the United States has launched a warning to the European Union demanding that more oil and liquefied natural gas be bought or, otherwise, will face the imposition of tariffs. This threat occurs in a context of commercial and energy tensions, where the US seeks to gain ground in the European market, which has historically depended on Russia’s energy imports. However, the EU does not have a centralized purchasing power that allows it to negotiate large -scale contracts, since it is individual companies that decide where to buy the gas. Evolution of European LNG imports in recent years The evolution of the gas supply. This graph represents the supply of LNG in Europe, which has experienced notable changes such as more than 15 years ago liquefied natural gas came in most countries such as Qatar and other producers. However, Russia’s agency was marking over time. However, the position of the United States as a supplier of Europe is from 2020, which is observed how it is consolidated. This was due, in large part, to the sanctions and commercial restrictions imposed on the Kremlin, which forced the EU has diversify its sources. In the last year, US imports have reached historical levels, even exceeding traditional suppliers. Europe’s position. Although Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, has shown its willingness to replace Russian gas with American LNG, the EU does not have the centralized purchase capacity on a large scale, so each member country negotiates it independently. For its part, Hungary and Slovakia, more aligned with the Kremlin For their energy treatment, they may not share these EU measures. However, Brussels aims to reduce the dependence of Russian fossil fuels for two years, but the high price of American LNG compared to Russian gas remains an important obstacle. In addition, the EU is struggling to protect its industries and reduce high energy prices, especially in countries such as Germany, which depend on gas for its industry. And Russia? Despite the Ukraine War and the sanctions imposed by the United States and the EU, Russia remains the largest gas supplier for the latter. The reason is because European companies continue to import large volumes of Russian LNG due to the lowest prices and the lack of short -term affordable alternatives. For its part, the Kremlin is looking for new markets for its energy and is approaching more to the Asian continent. Commercial relations. The production capacity of American LNG is increasing, and more natural gas plants are expected to enter into operation in the coming years. By 2026, the United States, Canada and Qatar may meet much of the European LNG demand, thus reducing the need for Russian gas. In addition, the EU seeks to reduce its natural gas consumption by 25% by 2030, modifying import and market patterns. However, prices will remain a considerable obstacle for total change to American LNG. Image | Unspash Xataka | Russia has managed to make fun of Europe’s sanctions: I just had to disguise its gas with Azerí flag

For the first time, solar and wind are eating gas and coal

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Europe has started the year by reaching a milestone: solar energy is the source that grew the fastest in the EU during 2024, surpassing coal for the first time. The meteoric rise. A recent report from Ember has highlighted that, in the last ten years, solar production has tripled, while wind energy has doubled in the same period, but stagnating in the last year. Analysis results have demonstrated That this growth has pushed fossil fuels to their lowest level in 40 years. Decline of coal. In 2019 the Green Dealofficially declaring a “climate emergency.” From that moment on, the European Commission was required to adapt all its proposals to limit global warming to 1.5ºC. At that time, coal was the third largest source of energy along with gas. Currently, it is in sixth place by 10%. In one statement with ReutersReport analyst Chris Rosslowe noted: “Over the last two years we have seen sharp declines in both coal and gas in the EU energy system and fossil fuels are now at a record low.” This marginality that the analyst speaks of lies in the increase in solar and wind generation by the Twenty-Seven, which has helped avoid imports worth 59 billion euros. Furthermore, as stated in its own report, more than half of the member countries do not have coal-based energy or only have a share of less than 5% in their electricity mix. And what about the gas? Although there was a small rebound in electricity demand, gas generation decreased for the fifth consecutive year. In the last five years, total gas consumption in the EU was reduced by 20%, of which a third corresponds to the electricity sector. This change has been driven by the growth of renewable energies, especially solar and wind, which in 2024 prevented gas consumption for electricity generation from being 11% higher. However, it should be noted that gas consumption has been altered by the War in Ukraine. At the beginning of the conflict, Europe’s energy dependence on Russian gas became visible, which led to a response accelerated to diversify energy supply and reduce vulnerability to geopolitical tensions. Stagnation of wind power. The European Union has predicted that in 2030 wind energy will reach 34% of its electrical mix, but as Rosslowe indicated For Reuters, “more actions” are needed to achieve that goal. The analyst’s statements are based on the fact that this last year wind power has only grown by 7 TWh year-on-year, reaching 477 TWh. These data reflect a decrease with respect to the average of 30 TWh of the last five years, but installation rates are expected to increase in the coming years. For more than four years, the costs of wind energy have been have stagnated due to high inflation and supply chain problems derived from the Covid-19 pandemic and the global energy crisis. In addition, the wind sector has been harmed more than the solar sector due to longer delivery times and higher initial investment requirements. However, the report maintains that wind energy will continue to be competitive compared to gas generation, thanks to future measures taken by the EU. The division in the nuclear. Given the rise of data centers, nuclear energy has become the fetish source of large technology companieswho consider it ideal for its uninterrupted use. Specifically, in Europe, nuclear energy continues to recover from 2022 and is generating 24% of electricity. Here arises one of the major divisions of the EUsince there are member countries that are in favor of continuing to invest in this energy, such as Finland, Slovakia, Hungary and France, the latter opening a new nuclear power plant after 25 years. On the other hand, other countries such as Germany, Belgium and Spain are in the process of gradually reducing or eliminating this energy source. In this last group was Italy, which recently has finalized a bill to return to nuclear energy. This situation glimpses one of the challenges that Europe will have to face in the coming years. The problem with the price. Although the report has presented the European Union’s good construction towards the energy transition, they still have to face the increase in electricity prices. Europe has two challenges ahead: the phenomenon known as “dunkelflaute” and an aging power grid. The first refers to periods of low renewable production due to lack of wind and sun. For its part, the limitations in the networks occur due to their longevity. These problems are combined with a growing demand for energy, which further complicates the situation. Spain and Portugal at the head of Europe. Within the Twenty-seven member states, Spain and Portugal have led the energy transition with 82% of electricity generation coming from renewable sources. Of this percentage, the combination of solar and wind energy reached almost 50%. In particular, Spain recorded a continuous increase in photovoltaic generation, reaching 21% of its electricity almost double the European average (11%). Furthermore, the Iberian country is the second country in Europe with the most solar energy generation, only behind Germany. Forecasts. In a statement collected by Carbon BriefChris Rosslowe said that while the EU’s energy transition has moved faster over the past five years, “we should take nothing for granted.” Furthermore, he adds that the goals achieved should generate “confidence” because they demonstrate the “effort and commitment” for a more sustainable energy future for Europe. Image | Unsplash and Unsplash Xataka | We have known for 25 years that we were going to exceed 1.5 degrees of temperature increase and we have not cared

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