installation

The EU is considering banning the installation of mobile network equipment from Huawei or ZTE. It is a dangerous strategy

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The European Commission (EC) is exploring ways to get member states stop using telecommunications equipment from Chinese sellers like Huawei or ZTE. Tension between Europe and China is escalating once again, and it is not at all clear that this decision will be beneficial for European companies. Huawei in Europe no, thanks. On Bloomberg cite sources close to these plans and talk about how the vice president of this organization, Henna Virkkunen, has adopted a very forceful position. Virkkunen apparently wants to completely stop the use of Huawei telecommunications equipment with an eye-catching argument: making that a legal requirement. It wouldn’t matter what each country thought.. Years ago the EU has already recommended avoiding Chinese telecommunications equipment as far as possible, but it was a suggestion without a mandatory nature and the member states were the ones to decide in this area. Spain, for example, has continued using this equipment. The Commission’s theoretical proposal would legally force EU countries to break commercial ties with these companies. Failure to comply with the requirement could expose these countries to economic sanctions. Before they were suggestions. At the beginning of 2020 the European Union announced those recommendations under the name “5G Toolbox”. At that time they warned of the risks but left room for maneuver to the member states. Now we go from a soft recommendation to a legal imposition, because that “Toolbox” was voluntary. The national security argument. The argument is the same as that used in the past: Euro officials fear the risks associated with using communications equipment from companies (such as Huawei) so closely linked to the Chinese government. Maintaining these teams, this strategy suggests, could compromise national security. And be careful with countries outside the EU. The EU’s plan is not only for member countries to abandon these teams, but to pressure countries outside the EU to do so as well. Thus, it would try to block the use of program funds Global Gateway if those who use them spend them buying Huawei equipment. The operators, harmed. European telecommunications companies also appear to oppose this plan. First of all, they indicate in Bloomberg, because Huawei technology is often cheaper and even superior to Western alternatives from Nokia or Ericsson. And second, because replacing existing equipment is extremely expensive and can delay current and future deployments. internal division. In the absence of confirmation of the EC plan, there is another key element: there is internal division among EU members. Germany and Finland continue to deliberate on what restrictions to impose, while Spain and Greece continue to purchase telephone equipment from these manufacturers. What they say in China. Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Minister, has indicated that when certain countries forcibly eliminate telecommunications equipment from Chinese firms like Huawei, they not only slow down their technological progress, but also suffer economic losses. He further added that “We urge the #EU to provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies and avoid undermining business confidence in investing in Europe.” Let’s remember Sweden. In 2020, Sweden decided to ban the use of telecommunications equipment from Chinese manufacturers with the same argument that we already know about national security. That theoretically favored the local company, Ericsson, but its CEO criticized the Swedish government’s decision precisely because he knew what was going to happen. Revenge is served on a cold plate. And what happened is that China retaliated. A few months later, China Mobile announced budgets and contracts to boost the country’s telecommunications infrastructure, and Ericsson was the biggest loser. The company had almost 11% market share before the government’s decision: today its share does not reach 2%. Dangerous veto. If confirmed and made effective, the veto on being able to use telecommunications equipment in the European Union is dangerous precisely for the same reason that happened with Sweden. China continues to be a great commercial ally of China despite being more aligned with the US in areas such as semiconductors. With these types of actions, Europe positions itself even more closely with the Trump government, something that is somewhat surprising because Europe already came out badly after the agreement with tariffs. In Xataka | Huawei has a plan to deal the final blow to NVIDIA in China: a supernode of 15,000 processors

Aerothermal energy is the heating of the future, but the electrical installation is stuck in the past

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“Winter is coming”, read the iconic phrase of the Stark family in Game of Thrones. There are less than two months until the official arrival of winter and, with it, the time to see how our energy bill trembles as much as we do. Search formulas to heat the house becomes prevalent in this final stretch of the year, especially when heating continues to be one of the main reasons why electricity consumption skyrockets. Every season new technological promises appear to maintain comfort without emptying your pocket, and aerothermal energy has become one of the most popular.But the key question arises: can all homes really benefit from it? The rise of aerothermal energy. This technology It works in a very simple way: Harnesses the energy already in the outside air to heat or cool the house and produce hot water. Instead of generating heat by burning gas or consuming large amounts of electricity, this system “extracts” it from the environment and multiplies it. In practice, this means that for every kilowatt of electricity it needs to operate, aerothermal energy can produce up to five of useful heat or cold. While a radiator or boiler converts energy into heat directly, aerothermal energy does something more intelligent: it extracts heat from the air and multiplies it. According to the architects consulted by Arquitectura y Diseño They calculate that, in a medium-sized home, this difference can translate into savings of up to 35% annually, as long as the house is well insulated and the climate is favorable. For the pocket, it translates into about 100 to 130 euros less on the annual bill. So aren’t all houses ready? Although it sounds like a perfect technology, architects warn that not all homes can take advantage of aerothermal energy on equal terms. In fact, there are multiple factors that reduce its effectiveness: the type of home, its insulation, the location and the specific energy needs. In Mediterranean climates, for example, where passive design allows thermal comfort to be achieved without active systems, “it does not make sense to use aerothermal energy as the main heating or cooling system.” In other words, installing aerothermal heating without previously evaluating the home can be like buying an electric car without having a plug at home. Experts in sustainable architecture insist that energy demand must first be reduced and housing optimized before betting on advanced technologies. The state of the electrical installations is another of the great brakes on the electrification of the residential park. The Observatory of Electrical Rehabilitation of Housing warns that 80% of the houses have technical deficiencies, and that only 22.4% were built after the 2002 Technical Regulation. This makes it clear that the majority of homes continue to depend on old networks, poorly prepared to assume new energy demands such as those required by aerothermal energy or solar self-consumption. The signs to know if your home is suitable. Before considering installing aerothermal, technicians recommend doing a prior evaluation. OK with the expertsthese are the main technical requirements: Have a ventilated outdoor space, free of obstacles, to place the outdoor unit. Have a modern electrical installation and sufficient contracted power. Check the thermal insulation and carpentry: without a good envelope, the efficiency of the system drops. Adapt the existing heating system (for example, replacing conventional radiators with underfloor heating). Carry out a climate feasibility study: in very cold or hot areas, you may need support from another system. In short, aerothermal energy is not installed, it is prepared. A well-insulated house with modern electrical installation can convert air into free energy; An old home, on the other hand, can make it an expense that is difficult to amortize. Furthermore, if it is found that the initial investment It can exceed 8,000 euros for an 80 m² apartment. What if it is combined with solar energy? Where aerothermal energy deploys its full potential it is when combined with photovoltaic solar energy. This synergy multiplies performance and reduces dependence on the electrical grid. The energy generated by the plates can power the heat pump, achieving an almost self-sufficient system with an emissions balance close to zero. Furthermore, it has already been applied in real projects such as Casa Gualba, designed by Slow Studiothis formula allows the production of up to 17 MWh per year thanks to the integration of tiles and photovoltaic panels on the roof. In short, aerothermal energy and solar energy form an efficient tandem, as long as the home is prepared for it. Efficiency, yes, but with preparation. Aerothermal energy is here to stay. It is a key piece on the path to decarbonized homes, especially now that the European Union banned at the beginning of the year subsidize gas boilers. But, like all technology, it only works well when the environment supports it. Investing in aerothermal energy without first checking the electrical installation, insulation or orientation of the home can translate into frustration rather than savings. For this reason, it is advisable to do a good check and thus the air can become our best ally against the cold. Image | FreePik and FreePik Xataka | Resolving one of the great debates in all kitchens: whether it consumes more to turn on the oven or the air fryer

In 1953 the United States decided to put a naval base in Rota. Now the installation looks at your future with uncertainty

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When Europe spoke weeks ago of rearme There were a series of news that attest to the situation. First it was Germany through the Almighty Rheinmetall and With Volkswagen In the “helping” equation, then even Spain with a component factory in the Basque Country. In France, a Cold War Plan to “diversify” your nuclear umbrella. And if none of these proposals went ahead, Europe would always have the Naval Rota base in Spain. Until now. Uncertainty at a key point. The story was told this morning The Financial Times. In the quiet coastal town of Rota, to the south of Spain, the imposing presence of American destroyers breaks the idyllic postcard. This old agricultural town houses today The naval base most important in the United States in Europe, the key piece of the antimile shield that protects the continent. It happens that something seems to have changed this part for a while. He had promised a sixth boat in 2022, but Donald Trump’s re -election has fired the alarms about an imminent American troops cutin line with its narrative that Europe must stop depending from Washington for your safety. In numbers, this “restlessness” reaches the close ones 84,000 deployed soldiers In at least 38 European bases, all inheritance of World War II, but whose continuity is now questioned. Broken, symbol and vulnerability. Rota’s base was the fruit of A signed pact In 1953 between Dwight Eisenhower and Franco. That agreement today is a complex of strategic dimensions that includes air track, three docks and the largest weapons and fuel installation of the pentagon in Europe. Its location, near the Strait of Gibraltar, makes it a fundamental node for Project military power towards the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Middle East. In addition, its official status as a Spanish naval installation “Joint use” It forces the United States to coordinate certain movements with Madrid, which adds a layer of complexity to its operation. However, the FT said that for many US military, broken is considered little less than A dream destination Due to its high quality of life and a local economy deeply influenced by the base: two thirds of the city’s economic activity depend on it, and Spanish companies such as Navantia maintain millionaire contracts With the United States Navy. The aircraft carrier of the Spanish Navy Dedal The Trump factor. But as we said, the idyllic postcard seems to be living an era of uncertainty with Trump’s re -election. The contradictory signals from Washington have sown restlessness. While Secretary of State Marco Rubio described as “hysteria” Rumors about possible cuts, Defense Secretary Pete Heghseth warned that American protection It would not be eternal. Worry. The concern is that, before any disagreement (here the fan is broad, from commercial reprisals, European support to Ukraine or the rejection of geopolitical proposals such as the Acquisition of Greenland), Trump can decide to drastically reduce military deployment in Europe, even unilaterally. The tycoon now He has shown disdain for the historical commitments of NATO and has frequently folvado the Scarce spending in defense of its European partners, being Spain One of the most lagging. In addition, President Pedro Sánchez has confronted Trump on various fronts, since his recent Posture about China until His sentence to the Israeli offensive in Gaza, which raises the political risk for the base of rota. Europe without shield. If we stick to numbers, Rota base currently houses 2,800 American soldiersincluding units at sea, and its fleet of destroyers (endowed with these systems to intercept ballistic missiles) represents a mobile capacity without equivalent in Europe. Although fixed pitchers from Poland and Romania could assume part of the Antimisile shield, the European Navy lacks A real alternative to the power of US ships parked in Spain. Hence NATO, although nominally owner of the system, depends largely on Military infrastructure of the United States for collective defense. The European strategy, for now, has consisted of gaining military independence gradually, but is still far from being able to fill the void that would leave an abrupt American replication. Again, That rearme acquires more importance. Alternatives: Morocco. In the face of the possibility of a break, The FT had that some voices suggest that the United States could transfer part of its operations To Moroccocountry that reinforced its link with the Trump administration by normalizing relations with Israel in 2020. With less politically compromised facilities and greater diplomatic harmony, Morocco would be outlined as a possible logistical replacement for Rota. Moreover, apparently, from The Foreign Policy Research Institute They warn that, if the Spanish government overestimates its strategic value or underestimate the level of irritation which can generate in Trump, the consequences could be immediate and deep. Uncertain future. So things, and although for now the base It continues to expand and receiving investments, the rumors of cuts fly over the installation. The American media commented that American residents in rota try Keep calm And, meanwhile, Europe observes with restlessness a situation that transcends local geopolitics and raises an existential dilemma for the continental defense itself. The transition to a greater self -sufficiency European defensive, now, it seems more pronounced than ever, but while that mature or becomes effective transformation, the shadow of an unexpected turn under Trump’s second presidency looms over the Cadiz coast. At stake, the key piece of the antimile shield that protects the old continent. Image | Navy, Us Defenseimagery In Xataka | In the middle of the Cold War, France designed a nuclear rearme plan for Europe. Now sound strongly In Xataka | Europe before its time of truth: we have entered the era of “rearme” and the EU has a plan not to be behind

Microsoft will invest another 2.9 billion euros in a new installation in Zaragoza

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Microsoft sends more in Aragon. In October 2023 he announced that would build a megacampus with data centers In that region, and now this bet has been reaffirmed, because the Redmond company will increase the initial investment significantly. 2.9 billion more. As indicated In the worldthe president of the Government of Aragon, Jorge Azcón, advertisement Last Friday that Microsoft would expand its previous investment in 2.9 billion euros. The project consists in the creation of a new data center near Zaragoza. 59 hectares for the new campus.Este nuevo centro de datos ocupará 59 hectáreas en la zona de Puerto Venecia, en Zaragoza. It is expected to begin to develop in 2026 with an initial investment of 582 million euros for three years – the cost of building it, they point out In El Heraldo– And the rest of the phases for 2.3 billion more, to be executed in the next 10 years. 10,000 million in total. That makes the figure invested by Microsoft in Aragon already reach 10,000 million euros, a spectacular amount that yes, will benefit from a reduction in fiscal charges. The fourth data center in this region will be added to those already planned in the Recycling Technology Park (63 hectares), Industrial Polygon Centrovía de la Muela (147 hectares) or in Villamayor de Gállego (87.4 hectares). These three centers have a joint investment of 6,600 million euros in the next 10 years. More jobs. The construction phase will allow to create between 1,000 and 2,000 new jobs, and the project expects to be completed in ten years and creates 300 jobs. If the rest of the planned data centers are included for the region, there will be between 900 and 1,200 jobs in total. Economic impact. This last data center will make the impact for Aragon GDP estimated at 2,685 million euros between 2026 and 2030. Aragon is becoming a true nerve point for the technological industry, and in May 2024 already announced a technology park of 42 hectares next to the Ebro River Campus of the University of Zaragoza. Amazon is also installed in Aragon. Amazon was the first to want to create new data centers in Arat what. As indicated In the avant -gardelast year confirmed an investment of 15.7 billion for the construction of four centers (the Burgo de Ebro, Villanueva de Gállego, Huesca and Empresarium). Goal also seems have raised A data center in the region, although this project has not been confirmed at the moment. They will need a lot of energy. These great projects are also generating doubts about how the region will face the enormous energy consumption of these centers. Azcón indicated that the government should continue to invest in infrastructure and in the energy transport network to favor these Big Tech investments, but the truth is that these centers will consume more energy than the entire community. Aragon generates a lot of renewable energybut it is also that the demand imposed by these new centers probably put that supply in trouble: only AWS will duplicate The electrical consumption of Aragon, and Microsoft will further aggravate the problem. And a lot of water. Not only is the energy problem, but that of water. It is true that large technology companies are developing promising cooling systems For data centers, but the requirement is clear. Amazon already estimated that he would need 750,000 cubic meters of water a year, but most would return to the network after fulfilling his target as a refrigerant. We have no data on how Microsoft raises dealing with these needs in Aragon. The unique provision of Aragon to host these investments contrasts with that of Lleida, which vetoed these types of facilities in January 2025. Image | Microsoft In Xataka | 30,000 jobs and many doubts. What do we know (and what is not) of the “Data Valley” Valencian

The installation is one of the barriers for the total triumph of the solar panels. China wants to fix it with “stickers”

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Betting on the installation of solar panels is something that seems key in the Ride for decarbonization in which we are immersed. And the country that has proposed to dominate the production and sale Of these panels is China. Multitude of companies have risen to the ship of the production of photovoltaic panels, so much that a Price war that is not favoring To the industry itself. And in that wild competitiveness, betting on innovation is key. As a result, one of these companies has recently shown its new products. The objective: fill all the roofs of these flexible solar panels. The keys. That company is Polyshine Solar, a Shanghai -based company that has been focusing solar panels that can boast something very unique: being light. This is not easy, but at the opening of the World Smart Energy Week, held in Tokyo, the Chinese company has shown His new flexible panels. These panels stand out for three key features: their simple installation with an adhesive layer that allows a fast deployment, its flexibility to adapt to various surfaces and a weight 70% lower than conventional glass panels. Behind those happy lords are the panels “Paradigma change”. Although what attracts attention is the weight of the panel and a flexion radius that the company has affirmed that it is 0.5 meters, which define As a “paradigm change” in the energy transition is the ease of application of the panel. Thanks to this simplification of the installation by reducing the action to a process of “paste and generating electricity”, Polyshine Solar considers that it will be something that democratizes access to renewables. Characteristics. On the margin, these modules are available in several versions with powers that vary between 505 W and 535 W. The energy conversion efficiency is between 19 and 20.1% and the panels have dimensions of 2,246 x 1,185 x 2.5 mm and a weight of 7.5 kg. This combination of weight, flexibility and the ease of placing them, “eliminate installation barriers on curved surfaces or structures with low load capacity, without additional reconditioning costs,” Comment The company. Apart from the adhesive surface, you can also hang and hold with straps. Guarantees. Polyshine states that, after 25 years, their panels will maintain at least 84.8% of their output power. They have IP68 protection against water and dust thanks to an EVA encapsulated and can operate in a temperature range between -40 ° and 85 ° Celsius. For a few years, the company’s light panels have been placed In areas such as acoustic barriers for roads within cities, resisting vehicle vibrations. And challenges. Now, as well Comment The company, getting a reduction in weight is not easy and is something that is at odds with efficiency. Each 0.1% increase in lightness and flexibility represents a challenge because it is something that can affect energy production. To face this, these years have opted for highly transparent materials, and the fruits are modules that generate 2% more energy in the same conditions as similar products. They do not specify what these similar products are, but they do comment that, although 2% look little, when 1,000 m² of their panels are installed, there are additional 5,000 kWh per year. Beyond corporate discourse, this progress reflects a change of focus on industry: they not only seek Improve energy efficiencybut optimize weight and ease of installation for Accelerate the adoption of renewables. Images | Polyshine (LinkedIn) In Xataka | The biggest problem of Perovskita’s solar panels was its durability. China has just resolved it

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