hydrogen

An island in Japan has revolutionized its vehicles. They have turned cow droppings into hydrogen fuel

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If we talk about hydrogen and mobility, we would possibly have to Add to Japan In the equation. Few companies have tried to make it a real alternative to the electric car like the Japanese Toyota, although it is true that in recent times the idea was Much more than in doubt. An island has shown that technology is still there. Of course, with the invaluable help of tons of cows excrement. The solution in Hokkaido. On the island of HokkaidoJapan, a key region for country production of the countryan innovative project seeks to convert the Hydrogen cow manurethat clean fuel with the potential of feed vehicles, homes and agricultural machinery. With More than one million cows Currently generating 20 million tons of manure per year, this source of waste represents an environmental problem due to its methane emissions and its impact on the Water quality. He Shikaoi Hydrogen Farmlaunched in 2015 by the Ministry of Environment of Japan, addresses this challenge by transforming waste into a sustainable energy resource. As? The manure and urine of cows are Farm collected local and sent to an anaerobic digester, where bacteria break down organic matter to produce biogas and liquid fertilizer. Then, biogas is purified in methane, which later becomes, hydrogen. Sustainable mobility. The plant has a production capacity of 70 cubic meters of hydrogenenough to supply up to 28 vehicles with hydrogen cells per day. In addition to cars, the fuel is currently used In tractors and forklift of the island, whose electrification with batteries is more complex. It is also stored in Canisters that are transported to provide energy to a sturgence fish and Obihiro Zoo. Challenges Several, of course. The main one is logistics, since it must be stored in high pressure tanks, which does so susceptible to leaks and degradation of materials, in addition to requiring specialized infrastructure for transport and distribution. Your acryogenic lmacement at -253 ° C is energetically expensive, which hinders its scalability. In spite of this, the project continues to advance, mainly with subsidies that equate the price of hydrogen with that of gasoline, to promote its adoption in cities such as Sapporo and Muroran. In fact and as we said at the beginning, Japan leads the hydrogen industryalthough the electric cars still They are more profitable than those driven by this gas. Hydrogen from waste. The truth is that the concept of producing hydrogen from waste is not limited to Japan. Other initiatives in the world explore alternative sources such as Pork manurepoultry and even Coconut peels. For example, in Thailand Toyota investigates hydrogen production From chicken excrement. In the United States the University of Illinois developed A METHOD TO MANUFACTURE HYDROGEN With manure, sugarcane residues and corn cobs, significantly reducing the energy consumption of the process. And in Fukuoka, Japan, a wastewater treatment plant produces hydrogen From human wastesupplying a fleet of garbage trucks without emission. All initiatives show that bioenergy from waste can play a key role in the global energy transition. However, the lack of infrastructure and high costs remain barriers for large -scale expansion. Uncertain future. He Project in Shikaoi It is an innovative example of circular economy, where waste becomes energy, reducing emissions and promoting sustainability. However, the viability of hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels will depend on technological advances that reduce their cost of production, storage and distribution. Although manure and cow droppings will hardly be the main source of hydrogen in the future, especially worldwide, initiatives such as these can lay the foundations for a new energy industry based on waste recycling, with potential applications in transport, agriculture and clean energy generation globally. Image | Japanexpeter, Nara In Xataka | Remote solar self -consumption: When you can’t install panels on your roof, you ask for remote In Xataka | Solar tiles: What are they, what is their price and what they offer in front of conventional solar panels

Spanish companies interested in green hydrogen have found a very succulent destination to invest: Morocco

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Morocco aspires that renewable energies Represent 52% of its capacity installed in 2030. At this time its percentage is 45%so, to get to the estimated, he wants to achieve it through green hydrogen. Among the companies selected to lead this initiative are Spanish companies. The project. A Moroccan Government Committee has selected five consortiums to develop six green hydrogen projects which will allow the production of ammonia, steel and industrial fuel. The investment has reached a total of 319,000 million Dírhams (32.5 billion dollars), which includes the participation of companies from different countries, including Spain: ACCIONA and CEPSA. This meeting enters within the framework of the “offer of Morocco”, where these works will take place in the three provinces of southern Morocco, which include the areas of Dakhla-Rio de Oro, LaAyoune-Sakia El Hamra and Guelmim-Noun, all located in the Occupied Western Sahara. The agreement with Europe. We all know that Europe is going through a deep crisis with The gas situation. Recently, the possible reopening of the controversial Nord Stream 2 creates more headaches, because He will get caughtbetween the United States and Russia. However, the EU member states are still sought alternatives to supply gas and there Green hydrogen. Morocco You have seen a chance To participate in the Green Pact of the European Unionwhereby an objective of importing 10 million tons of renewable hydrogen is established by 2030. In this way the Norafrican country becomes a key actor for the EU. An investment with contradictions. Despite Morocco’s attraction as a partner in the energy transition, Your recent decision To give to Israel 34,000 km² in the Atlantic for gas exploitation has generated a strong controversy in Spain. This measure has aroused diplomatic tensions, since the ceded waters could conflict with areas of interest with the Iberian country. In addition, Spain has different points in its green hydrogen orography becoming a direct rival. In fact, almost 40% of the 5,200 MW In hydrogen projects presented in Europe they come from Spain. The problem is even bigger. However, the projects are not free of controversy and that the Moroccan government has announced that it will offer up to 30,000 hectares of land to each project once a preliminary agreement is signed for the construction of electrolysis plants. The territory where They will operate is a disputed area And now the Spanish companies, acts and Cepsa, will work in this area, which could increase diplomatic tensions With Spain and the Sahara. In addition, the fact that Morocco is exploiting areas in Western Sahara for international projects could generate even more conflicts in the political and territorial sphere. Other companies at stake. The development of green hydrogen in Morocco has also attracted a variety of international companies, each with its own strategy. On the one hand, on Europe side will be a German company, Nordex, specialized in renewable and two French energies, extremely known in the world of energy, totalenergies and Engie, which will focus on producing ammonia from green hydrogen. On the other hand, in the area of ​​the Arabiga Peninsula, there is the Taqa company of United Arab Emirates that will invest in the production of ammonia, fuel and steel, and the Saudi Acwa Power will focus on the manufacture of steel. On the other hand, as the presence of China could not miss with the EUG and China Three Gorges companies dedicated to ammonia production; While the United States, with the Ortus company, will focus on the production of green ammonia. Image | Pxhere and Flickr Xataka | Cheaper, durable and ecological: a new material with the help of ruthenium wants to change the rules of green hydrogen

Spain has a plan to become the European green hydrogen leader. And it will cost us 1,214 million euros

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With the corridor of H2Med almost run by A recent conflicthe First Iberian Price Index From established renewable hydrogen and a recent millionaire injection of European funds, Spain has everything to emerge as a leader in this sector. The ambition has come to stay. Injection of funds. The Government of Spain has announced which will allocate 1,214 million euros of the Newgeneu funds to seven projects located in Aragon, Andalusia, Castilla y León, Cataluña and Galicia to develop hydrogen valleys. These European aid will be distributed among green hydrogen production and distribution projects to decarbonize several energy and industrial sectors, under the H2 Valles program. The companies that are behind the projects are Moeve, Enagás, Reolum, Repsol, Ric Energy, Capital Energy, Fertiberia or Ercros, among others. The goal. In a press release, the vice president and minister for ecological transition, Sara Aagesen, He has highlighted that “it is a call for strategic relevance that advances on the decarbonization agenda.” Requirements such as the purchase commitment of at least 60% of production by industrial consumers have been established. The Institute for Diversification and Saving of Energy (IDAE), attached to the miteco, manages this line of incentives to integrate hydrogen into the energy mix and reduce CO2 emissions. Spain is consuming 500,000 tons per year of Gray hydrogen (of fossil origin), so this new form of hydrogen will help change to be dynamic. Hydrogen valleys. The seven selected projects will add 2,278 MW of electrolysis power for the production of renewable hydrogen in 11 facilities, since the bases of the call allow more than one cluster site if the distance between them is less than 100 km. These plants will use renewable energy (solar and wind) to generate green hydrogen, and many will be integrated with ammonia or ammonia facilities fertilizers to reduce industrial emissions. In addition, 90% of electrolyzers will be manufactured in Europe and most promoters They have opted by alkaline electrolysis technology, considered efficient and scalable. Aid distribution. The distribution of European funds is carried out prioritizing projects with greater impact. Starting with the community with the largest renewable cluster: Aragon, which will receive 384 million euros for two hydrogen valleys, one of them shared with Catalonia. They are followed by Andalusia with 304 million, Castilla y León with 259 million, Galicia with 170 million and Catalonia with 98 million. In addition, three of them will be located in municipalities with demographic challenges, such as Andorra in Teruel and Cubillos del Sil and Robla both in the province of León. All this to promote local economic development and job creation in these places where there is less industrial activity. It should be added that the initial budget of 1,200 million, framed on the Repower EU agenda of the recovery, transformation and resilience (PRTR) plan (PRTR) was extended to an additional 10%, reaching the current amount of 1,214 million euros. Horizon 2030. The development of these projects seeks to consolidate an advanced green hydrogen infrastructure so that within five years be integrated into sectors such as industry, aviation and maritime transport. Spain has invested more than 3,100 million euros in the last two years to consolidate its position in the green hydrogen sector in Europe. Image | Freepik Xataka | Nikola had everything to revolutionize the world of hydrogen trucks. Now is on the verge of bankruptcy

Nikola had everything to revolutionize the world of hydrogen trucks. Now is on the verge of bankruptcy

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In 2014, and just over a decade after the appearance of Tesla, Nikola arrived. It was another automotive company, another that honored the electrical engineer and inventor And that he also wanted to mark the way in the world of electric vehicles. However, his incursion was not in the cars segment, but of trucks, which earned him the nickname ‘THE TESLA OF TRUCKS‘. He immediately caught attention, with promises such as electric and hydrogen trucks with autonomies of 2,000 kilometers. Today, its trucks are a mere memory and the company is on the verge of bankruptcy. On the edge of the abyss. That is what sources point in both Bloomberg as of The Washington Postwho claim that anonymous representatives of the company have told them that the company is evaluating their financial and liquidity needs to carry out a financial restructuring. And within the options, the sale of the company, the aforementioned restructuring and bankruptcy are included. The question is how a company that became valued -during a very brief period of time, yes- above a giant like Fordit has ended in this situation. And the full photo is quite eloquent. Chulo was, really, but it was just an idea Nikola Tesla. It was in 2016 when we met the company’s first truck, a six -wheeled beast, a power of 2,000 hp and the ability to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 30 seconds to maximum load. It could also maintain a speed of 100 km/h rising a 6% slope and, thanks to a pile of hydrogen, it had an autonomy of almost 2,000 kilometers. Your name? Nikola One. 375,000 dollars was what they were going to ask once to production, something that would begin in 2020. However, that 2020 and without having sold a single truck, Nikola became a public company. It was a strange movement because the only thing that existed were promises. Already We said In its presentation: very nice on paper, but although the truck could be reserved paying a tank of $ 1,500, there was no product. Two. Tre. Even so, Nikola continued to present trucks. The TWO was the following in 2017, a truck of which they did show a prototype that moved with electric motors and autonomies more restrained than those of the first: between 800 and 1,200 kilometers. It also has hydrogen battery, cameras instead of mirrors. And then the Tre In 2018, repeating hydrogen formula, up to 1,200 kilometers and a design more adapted to European roadswhere long morro trucks do not have so much place due to their maneuverability. They had three trucks on their way, but none produced and the promise was still to start deliver LO TESLA AND THE COMPANY affirmed that I already had customers with reservations of even 800 trucks in the US. Controversial. They did not wait and, in 2018, Nikola sued Tesla. It’s funny, really, but beyond the word game, it is because Nikola asked the Musk company due to alleged patent infractions for the Tesla Semithe proposal of electric truck of Tesla. According to them, Tesla had copied three key points of the Nikola One, such as the fiselogue design, the enveloping windshield and the entrance door. They looked, yes (and, for tastes, colors, but the semi looks like a van split in half and the One a more futuristic vehicle). But the main course arrived in 2020: due to accusations of fraud, The CEO and founder of Nikola, Trevor Milton, resigned. It was after a devastating report that Nikola described as a “ocean of lies” and pointed to Milton as responsible for mulminating shareholders to bet on the company. “There was no stack of fuel in the truck. We never affirmed that it existed,” Milton defended himself, who also boasted of having a lot of development technologies that turned out to be from third parties. Cancellations. Since 2020, the waters have been calmer, but that there would be no controversy does not mean that things were good for doors inside. The Badger, His rival against the Cybertruck de Teslait was canceled along with other prototypes and the number of hydrogen trucks does not give to sustain the company. In Bloomberg they point out that, during the first nine months of 2024, only 200 were sold and in October the company said they had effective to finance their operations until the first quarter of 2025, But not beyond. In December They offered Up to 100 million dollars in shares, but it seems that things have failed to take off. We will see what happens with ‘The Tesla of the trucks’, but its situation does not look good. In Xataka | Toyota wanted to make the star technology and the alternative to the electric car. They already doubt that it is possible

A new material with the help of Ruthenium wants to change the rules of green hydrogen

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Renewables have postulated as the Future of Energyboth particular and in entire countries. They are also the present, with examples such as Sorpasso in countries like Spain and others like Uruguay pulling practically only renewables for months. Within those renewables, the development of methods to produce green hydrogen more efficiently is key. And a team of South Korean researchers They believe Having found the key to approaching that new era of green hydrogen: a new material that promises to revolutionize energy production. Colors. Hydrogen is extremely abundant in the universe, but it has a problem: finding it without being combined with other elements is very difficult. It is an element that has a great ease to combine and, to use it as a source of energy, it is necessary to separate it from those other elements. There are several ways to do itbut if we use renewables as an energy source, we can achieve what is known as ‘green hydrogen’. Catalysts. By means of the electrolysis technique, water hydrogen is separated. For hydrogen to be “green” it is necessary that, in that process, we use solar, wind or hydroelectric energy as a source of energy. Also an element that works as a catalyst, elements that accelerate the necessary chemical reactions to separate the hydrogen from the element to which it is linked. The better the catalyst, the faster the reaction occurs, making the process more efficient in time and resources. The problem is that they are usually expensive due to the presence of precious metals, which makes them little accessible and also have a high environmental impact because these metals are extracted from mining, some as part of Rare earth. No precious metals. That is why there are researchers experiencing with catalysts based on transition metals, non -metallic materials (such as graphene) and others that combine elements such as ruthenium, silicon and tungsten. Precisely, Ruthenium is the main ingredient of the new catalyst they are developing in the Group of Metrology of Emerging Materials of the Institute for Research and Science Science of Korea (or Kriss). The team had a catalyst with a molybdenum dioxide structure with nickel-molybdenum . They were clear that they had to investigate the Moo₂-Ni₄mo route as a catalyst, but not in their current state. Example of the electrolysis process to separate oxygen hydrogen Ruthenium shield. That’s when they decided to take the eye on Ruthenium. They introduced a small amount of this element into the structure of Moo₂-Ni₄mo and realized that, with river nanpoarticles of a size below the three nanometers, a thin layer was formed on the surface of the catalysts. Impact. This works as a shield that prevents degradation, improving durability. How much? According to its evaluations, the new catalyst presents a durability four times greater and is capable of lasting six times more in activity if compared to other existing commercial materials. All this without using rare or precious metals in the process. In addition, they combined the new catalyst with a photovoltaic system that uses Sovskita-Silicio solar cellsachieving conversion efficiency of 22.8% of solar to hydrogen. It is a promising result because it shows that this new catalyst is not only resistant and accessible, but efficient. Pocket. The problem of green hydrogen is that, although it is a fundamental element in our Way to Discarbonizationhis first appraisal has not been too encouraging. In December last year the first Iberian index of the price of renewable hydrogen was launched. Baptized as mibgas, The starting price was € 148.36/MWh. To compare, that of natural gas was about € 45.83/MWh. It was not something encouraging, but something completely normal due to the current production cost of hydrogen. Not only to talk about the infrastructure (with the entire system not only of electrolysis, but also of solar panels to feed the process), as well as the cost of the catalysts. That is why, cheaper catalysts that maintain high efficiency pave the way to the extraction of green hydrogen at a more restrained price. Looking at the sea. From the KRISS they are confident with their achievements because that new catalyst has not only marked with a green point the sections of price, efficiency and durability, but is exceeding expectations. Sun Hwa Park is the team’s principal researcher and has commented that these catalysts are also demonstrating high stability in saline water. “Currently, green hydrogen production requires purified water, but the use of real seawater could substantially reduce the costs associated with desalination. We plan to continue our research in this area. ” It will be the next challenge of a team that is not alone in this, since there are other teams and universities that have been proposed Exactly the same: use new transition compounds and metals to reduce precious metal dependence on catalysts. Now, everything indicates that it is something that will take time to establish and, without going any further, there we have the price of solar energy and how much it has dropped When technology has been popular. Images | Kriss, IberdrolaDepartment of Energy and Wood Mackenzie In Xataka | A Japanese study is being able to transform methane into a clean energy source: turquorogen turquorogen

The Plan of Spain for leading green hydrogen has been faced with an unexpected problem: Zamora

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The countdown for the passage of the H2Med corridor It is underway. The one that will be the first clean hydrogen corridor of the European Union will be underway by 2030, but, as in any project, it is not exempt from controversy, since the section that goes from Zamora (Spain) to Celorico da Beira ( Portugal) has aroused a conflict. The controversy. The Duero Hydrographic Confederation (CHD) He has authorized A INARI SOLAR SL The extraction of 117,000 cubic meters per year of groundwater of the Natural Reserve of Las Lagunas de Villafáfila. The initiative will supply a 40MW green hydrogen production plant. Located in Moreruela Granja (Zamora), the Unión del Pueblo Leonese party (UPL) has warned about environmental impact of this project in a protected wetland. For this reason, divisions between neighbors, environmentalists and politicians have not been expected, between those who support it and who fear its consequences. In addition, the controversy has reached the Unesco Through the Ramsar agreement, an international treaty for the protection of wetlands. The decarbonization process. Spain It has different green hydrogen pointsbeing Zamora one of the most strategic points for the installation of infrastructure for the production of this renewable. However, producing green hydrogen requires large amounts of water, an increasingly scarce resource in Spain. In fact, 82.5% of the water It is used for agricultureand the country Face an accelerated desertification process. For this reason, the choice of the Villafáfila aquifer as a source of supply has generated outrage. The process. The CHD granted The concession in January after a period of public information of a month that, according to the agency, was closed without allegations or reports against. The Confederation argues that the extracted water will be minimal compared to the total of the aquifer, representing only 0.1% of the available resources. In addition, the concession will be 25 years, allowing a maximum flow of 3.8 l/Sy will capture by means of a 70 -meter depth survey. However, environmentalists in action, among other organizations, He has questioned These data because they point out the devastating impact on the wetland. In addition, he has denounced the lack of transparency in the process and has pointed out that authorization has been done on a place where restrictions for agricultural irrigation. From the town. Social discomfort has grown rapidly and already circulates In Change.orgunder the motto: “#Salvemosvillafáfila! A natural treasure in danger of disappearance.” The initiative accumulates more than 7,000 signatures, denouncing that water extraction will endanger an ecosystem necessary for bird migration and the local economy. From the political sphere, and as we have pointed out above, UPL has resorted to authorization before the Junta de Castilla y León and has taken the case to Ramsar agreementwith the aim of opening the door to a possible international review. In favor. From the Popular Party, the president of the Diputación de Zamora, Javier Faúndez, He has shown Your support for green hydrogen, but Reject the choice of aquifer as a water source. In addition, he argues that there are more viable alternatives, such as the Esla River or a nearby reservoir. While from the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, on which the CHD depends, has defended the concession ensuring that the regulated procedure has been followed and that the impact will be insignificant. However, the authorization must still pass the filter of the Junta de Castilla y León, which has promised a rigorous evaluation of environmental effects. Forecasts The conflict continues to climb and everything indicates that there will be citizen mobilizations in the coming weeks. The Junta de Castilla y León has the last word, so if the authorization continues, the debate could reach European instances. All this would test the compatibility between the EU climatic ambitions and the conservation of the environment. Image | Akiv and designed by Freepik Xataka A Japanese study is being able to transform methane into a clean energy source: turquorogen turquorogen

Airbus’s hydrogen plane was going to reach the market in 2035. It has now been delayed in the midst of “great” challenges

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Airbus wanted to take the me. First commercial plane of the world propelled by hydrogen In 2035. The ambitious initiative continues to exist, only that it is not clear when it will end up materializing. The European aerospace giant has recognized that the project is progressing at a slower pace than expected. As Reuters collects He said that “the development of a hydrogen ecosystem, which includes infrastructure, production, distribution and regulatory frameworks, is a great challenge that requires global collaboration and investment.” One of the most important obstacles has to do with obtaining renewable hydrogen. An ambitious project, multiple challenges The main objective of the hydrogen plane is to reduce air transport emissions, and at this point the Hydrogen production: Obtaining large quantities using renewable energy is still complicated. Green hydrogen needs a lot of investment And a long way to go to be widely profitable. Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, has said in the past that there is a doubt that there is sufficient green hydrogen in the future to boost a large number of commercial airplanes, but the company has continued to boost its plans to reduce emissions, which also include the use of Sustainable aviation fuel (SFA). Airbus has not yet given a new calendar for the project, but the signs are not optimistic. According to the Force Ouvrière union, workers were informed this week that technology has a delay between five and ten years with respect to the necessary rhythm. With this panorama, the objective of 2035 seems increasingly complicated. The aforementioned organization has indicated that the European firm is also evaluating the completion of “Certain subprojects” It is not clear if in addition to the aforementioned challenges related to the alternative fuel supply there are other disadvantages in the development of proposed aircraft. Airbus presented three concepts in 2020. The first, a turbofán with capacity for about 200 passengers and a range of 3,704 kilometers. The second, a more content turbohyl, designed for about 100 passengers and with 1,852 kilometers of reach. And the third, a mixed wing model, also turbophah, with the same figures as the first. The company also contemplated two propulsion systems. On the one hand, the Hydrogen combustionwith gas turbines with modified fuel injectors. On the other hand, a completely electrical propulsion system with hydrogen fuel batteries, which feed electric motors that turn the propellers or plane turbines. Images | Airbus In Xataka | A report has revealed that US air traffic control technology is obsolete. There are pieces that are no longer achieved

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