nuclear

The problems of nuclear fusion are falling behind each other. Optimism cornering denialism

by

The challenges raised by the nuclear fusion intimidate. And it is to replicate on our planet and small scale the same reactions that take place in The interior of the stars It is a titanic challenge. Even so, The human being has already traveled A very important part of this path. There is a belief that defends that in the field of nuclear fusion we have barely advanced since World War II, but, as we will see in this article, it is not so. There is much to do, but we have advanced a lot. In order for electric power plants equipped with fusion reactors to be viable, it is necessary to solve problems that are still dealing with engineers. And it is that the challenges posed by nuclear fusion right now reside in the field of engineering, and not in that of basic science. In fact, Spain will actively participate In the search for the solution to one of these problems thanks to IFMIF-DONES (International Fusion materials irradicion facility demo-eraned neutron source), The installation that is under construction (Granada). Its purpose in broad strokes will be to develop a source capable of producing high energy neutrons with the intensity and volume of irradiation necessary to test candidate materials to be used in future fusion energy plants. This is one of the pending challenges, but many others have already been left behind thanks to the great work that scientists have carried out in experimental reactors, such as the already “retiree” JET (Joint European Torus), which is housed in Oxford (England). Let’s trust the reactor JT-60SA of Naka (Japan), and, above all, ITER (International Thermonuclear Experctor reactor), are up to expectations. Eurofusion and the University of Texas have made two new relevant contributions We can imagine in an intuitive way a nuclear fusion reactor as a pressure cooker in which two essential ingredients are cooked: deuterium and trity. To ensure that the nuclei of these two hydrogen isotopes merge and release the neutron that will ultimately allow us to obtain a large amount of energy it is necessary to confine them in an extremely hot plasma. In fact, so that this process takes place, a temperature of at least 150 million degrees Celsius must reach. Scientists know how to do it, so submitting the deuterium and tritium nuclei at the pressure and temperature to get me to merge is no longer a problem. What still represents a challenge is to achieve Keep turbulence under control. Otherwise, the plasma will be destabilized, its density in the critical regions will be affected and the support of the fusion reaction over time will not be possible. The mechanisms that govern this process are very complex, but little by little physicists and engineers who work in fusion energy are getting them better. The QCE (‘Quasi-Continuous exhaust’) regime is characterized by eliminating periodic instabilities that occur on the edge of plasma In broad strokes what they intend is to minimize turbulence so that the loss of plasma energy is minimal. Two of the tools that these technicians have are the artificial intelligence (AI), which is playing a very important role in understanding the mechanisms that govern plasma behavior, and Rebco superconductor magnets. In fact, The sparc fusion reactor that is building the American company Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) uses them. Precisely Eurofusionthe European organization that is responsible for promoting and supporting the scientific research necessary to bring to fruition The European Nuclear Fusion Planhas recently made an important contribution in this field. And it has shown that in the reactors Tokamaklike Jet or Iter, it is possible to use an operation mode known as Qce (Quasi-counts exhaust) that is characterized by eliminating periodic instabilities that occur at the edge of plasma, and, at the same time, it supports high density in this region of gas and preserves a very high level of energy. Gradually the confinement and stabilization of plasma are no longer a problem. The other recent contribution in which I propose that we investigate it briefly has been carried out by a team of researchers from the University of Texas and the National Laboratory of Los Alamos, both in the US. In the article they have published in Physical Review Letters These scientists propose the creation of a magnetic confinement system without leaks ten times faster, according to their calculations, than the standard method without sacrificing a precision apex. This innovation is important because it helps to resolve the containment of high energy particles within the reactor, and, therefore, to avoid the loss of temperature and density in the critical regions of plasma. Yes, as I mentioned a few lines above, much remains to be done in the field of nuclear fusion, but definitely every day we are one step closer to commercial fusion energy. Image | Fusion for Energy More information | Eurofusion | Texas University In Xataka | Iter has faced one of the great challenges of nuclear fusion: prevent plasma from 150 million ºC to destroy the reactor

The Granada particle accelerator is born today. Thanks to him Spain has the key to nuclear fusion

by

Today is a crucial day for IFMIF-DONES (International Fusion materials irradicion facility demo-eraned neutron source). This very important scientific project is closely linked to ITER (International Thermonuclear Experctor reactor), The experimental reactor of nuclear fusion that An international consortium led by Europe He is building in the French town of Cadarache. Ifmif-Dones, however, resides in listening to, a town in the province of Granada. The construction works of this last installation began in mid -September 2022, but today it is a very important day for both Granada and all of Spain. And it is because the Council of Ministers will approve today the investment of almost 200 million euros required by the start of the construction of the IFMIF-DONES linear particle accelerator. This machine is the authentic heart of this scientific installation, and, therefore, the ingenuity that will place Spain in The nuclear fusion map. The tuning of this linear particle accelerator will cost approximately 450 million euros, although the Andalusian Board will contribute half of this money. However, this is the cost of the accelerator; The IFMIF-Dones project will completely cost about 700 million euros. Spain will contribute half of this capital. To this figure we must add another 50 million to carry out its implementation. In addition, the operation of this avant -garde research center will have an annual cost of about 60 million euros, of which Spain will assume 10%. It may seem a lot of money, but we must not forget that those responsible for the project are convinced that The economic and scientific return Ifmif-Dones will far exceed your cost. What is Ifmif-Dones and why it is crucial for the future of nuclear fusion Ifmif-Dones is one of the three fundamental pillars of the nuclear fusion building in whose construction the European Union is involved. The other two are iter and demo. The experimental nuclear fusion reactor that is currently being built in the French town of Cadarache seeks to demonstrate that the merger at the scale that man can handle works, and also that it is profitable from an energy point of view. However, Iter does not aspire to produce electricity. That will be demo’s task (Demonstration Power Plant), an installation that will take the technological advances that will have shown to function correctly in Iter and take them one step further to establish themselves as The authentic precursor of commercial nuclear fusion reactors. However, without Ifmif-Dones there will be no demo, so Granada is now the center of attention. The fusion of a deuterium core and another tritium triggers the production of a helium core and a neutron that is fired with an energy of about 14 MEV To understand in all its extension what is the role of the IFMIF-DONES project, it is necessary that we briefly review the foundations of nuclear fusion. One of the biggest challenges facing the technicians who are involved in the tuning of nuclear fusion reactors by means of magnetic confinement, such as Iter, consists of recreating inside the vacuum chamber of these sophisticated machines the necessary conditions so that the deuterium and tritium nuclei are merged. However, this is not everything. When this reaction takes place the fusion of a deuterium nucleus and another of tritium triggers the production of a helium core and a neutron that is fired with An energy of about 14 MEV (Megaelectronvolts). The problem is that the neutron lacks net electric charge, so it cannot be confined inside the magnetic field that, however, does retain the deuterium and tritium nuclei, which have positive electric charge. This is the reason why when it originates as a result of the nuclear fusion reaction, this neutron is fired towards the walls of the vacuum chamber with enormous energy. This particle is very important because in practice it will be closely linked to the production of electrical energy in nuclear fusion reactors, but, at the same time, it represents a very aggressive form of radiation that can significantly degrade the materials used in the reactor. The components that will be most affected by the direct impact of high energy neutrons and the most intense heat flow are the internal wall of the vacuum chamber and the Blanketthat it is a mantle that covers it and that has as its purpose Regenerate the tritium that it is necessary to use as fuel in the nuclear fusion reaction. This is the reason why it is crucial to develop new materials that are able to support the flow of neutrons and guarantee, therefore, that the reactor will have a prolonged operational life. IFMIF-DONES linear accelerator will produce high energy neutrons with the intensity and volume of irradiation necessary to test candidate materials This is, neither more nor less, the purpose of Ifmif-Dones. And to carry it out it is necessary to put ready -to -set facilities to allow the technicians involved in the project to evaluate the properties of candidate materials to intervene not only in demo, but also in future commercial nuclear fusion commercial reactors. The task of this project invites us to intuit what the heart of Ifmif-Dones is: a source capable of producing high energy neutrons with the intensity and volume of irradiation necessary for Test candidate materials. And this source of neutrons will be nothing other than a linear particle accelerator that will help IFMIF-DONES scientists to try, validate and qualify the materials that in the medium term should reach future electric power production plants through fusion. Image | IFMIF-DONES In Xataka | Iter has faced one of the great challenges of nuclear fusion: prevent plasma from 150 million ºC to destroy the reactor

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

by

Russia and China are indisputably two powers in nuclear energy. So are USA, France and other western alignment countries. Although these states have a bulky nuclear plant park which really places them at the forefront is Your ability to develop new technologiesand in this area the most promising reactors are The fourth generation. Russia and China already have at least A reactor of this type in operationand the US, France, India, Canada or Japan are some of the countries that plan to have them in the future. However, there is a power in nuclear energy that often goes unnoticed. We all know that South Korea has a lot of weight in semiconductor industries, consumer electron Nuclear energy as a strategic pillar Not only within its mix of electricity generation, but also as an engine of innovation and export. South Korea is the most consistent alternative to China and Russia Currently South Korea has 26 Nuclear reactors in operation with an approximate total capacity of 25.7 GWE. This infrastructure contributes to its Mix with 30% of electricity, although the commitment of this Asian country for nuclear energy does not end here. And it is that between 2026 and 2033 the construction of four more reactors will conclude that will have a power of 1,340 MWE each of them, so the total installed power in this country within less than a decade will exceed 30 GWE. Its APR-1400 reactors incorporate passive security systems that allow them to compete from you with the machines exported by Russia, China or the USA In any case, as I have anticipated a few lines above, which has placed South Korea to the avant -garde and has positioned this country as One of the largest exporters in the nuclear sector It is your ability to develop your own technologies. Their APR-1400 reactors incorporate passive security systems that allow them to compete from you with the machines exported by Russia, China or the US. In fact, South Korea has already exported this reactor to the United Arab Emirates and is negotiating with the Czech Republic and Poland to sell their technology. On the other hand, this Asian country has also opted for fourth generation nuclear fission. Your smart reactor (System-Integrad Modular Advanced Reactor), what is An SMR type design (Compact modular reactor) is in the process of certification to be used in desalination and electricity generation facilities. It also prepares fourth generation reactors refrigerated by sodium, such as the machine outlined in the Kalimer project, although it is not yet clear when the first South Korean commercial reactor endorsed by this technology will come into operation. South Korea has a very ambitious plan: wants to capture at least Ten international contracts until 2030. His first project abroad has been Barakah’s nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates, and It has been a success. As I mentioned a few lines above, Czech Republic and Poland are presumably will bet on South Korean reactors, but South Korea nuclear energy companies are also trying to take contracts in Egypt, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Turkey and even in the United Kingdom. If only some of them get to fruition this Asian country will become a full competitor in the international market of China, Russia, France or the US. Image | Wikierati More information | Bloomberg In Xataka | Spanish nuclear have been criticized for their role in the blackout. This was what they did before, during and after collapse

This is how the new carbon-based nuclear batteries work-14

by

No, you are not having a dejà vu. Nuclear batteries They were on everyone’s lipsafter the Chinese company Betavolt announced the beginning of the production of its batteries. And although it seems a new idea, the first nuclear battery was created in 1954 using Strontium-90. Since then, the search for safer batteries has continued and South Korea has given a new impulse. Short. A group of scientists from the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute and Technology has developed A nuclear battery that promises to convert radiation into electricity for decades, without the characteristic dangers of conventional nuclear energy. According to Newatlasthe betavoltaic cell sensitized with dye uses beta particles to generate electricity from carbon-14. There is battery for a while. Carbon-14, with a half-life of 5730 years, will guarantee a long-term energy supply, at least in theory. However, in practice, factors such as material degradation and progressive loss of efficiency can limit the real battery life. It is just a prototype. As They have detailed In Newatlas, the battery has a relatively low power density – 20.75 nanovatos per square centimeter by milicur, with an efficiency of 2.86 % -, and the progress opens the door to applications where longevity is crucial. Instead of depending on lithium -ion batteries, very low consumption devices could use this technology and eliminate the need for frequent recharges or substitutions. More technical. The operation of this battery is based on the emission of beta particles from carbon-14, a radioactive isotope that emits high energy electrons. These electrons impact on a titanium dioxide semiconductor covered with a ruthenium -based dye, which causes the flow of electric current. Do you have real application? Scientists They have done An estimate considering sectors where longevity and low energy consumption are key. On the one hand, in the medical field, to feed implantable devices, such as pacemakers and sensors. On the other hand, in remote or difficult access for environmental monitoring stations, allowing continuous functioning for years without human intervention. Also, researchers have observed that integration in microchips, RFID labels and other miniaturized devices, as well as slow load applications, where small capacitors could accumulate energy and free it quickly in demand peaks, would be interesting. Something already existed … At the University of Bristol They have designed A carbon-14-based nuclear battery, but the approaches are different. In the British version, carbon-14 is encapsulated in synthetic diamond, offering extreme durability of up to 5,700 years and greater protection against radiation. The latter, although more expensive and complex to manufacture, is oriented to devices that require continuous operation for centuries, such as space probes or monitoring systems in extreme environments, while the Korean option could be more viable for low -cost applications and lower energy demand. Chinese technology vs Korean. Both technologies, the nuclear battery developed in South Korea and BV100 of betavolt From China, they share the principle of converting radioactive energy into electricity, but they diverge significantly in their approaches and applications. The Chinese battery uses Nickel-63, an isotope with a half-life of 100 years, in a more compact and modular design that promises to feed higher power devices, including drones and industrial equipment. In addition, while the Korean battery is still in an experimental phase, Betavolt has advanced towards marketing. Forecasts. While there is still a way to go to perfect its efficiency and reduce costs, the perspective of batteries that can last decades without recharges completely redefine the way we conceive energy storage and open new possibilities. Image | ACS Xataka | China has the definitive battery. A “eternal” photovoltaic nuclear battery that works in space and in the sea

of nuclear veto to small renewable support reactors

by

The blackout that affected Spain and Portugal on April 28 He has revived the debate of renewables and nuclear. An discussion that has overreach the borders of the Iberian Peninsula and the country’s reference country is discussing it: Denmark. Short. Lars Aagaard, Minister of Climate, Energy and Public Services of Denmark, has confirmed in the Politiken environment that the government is evaluating the possibility of raising the veto to nuclear energy. In addition, he has indicated that the evaluation process will take a year and focus on the pros and cons of reviving nuclear energy. The nuclear past. Denmark made the decision to close the door to the nuclear in 1985. That period was marked by the accidents of Three Mile Island and, a few years later, Chernobil, so he ended up sealing the Danish rejection of a technology seen as dangerous and unpredictable. And what do you want? The Danish minister has mentioned that the analysis will focus on small modular reactors (SMR), a technology that promises shorter construction times and lower financial risks than large traditional plants. However, many SMR are still in the design phase or waiting for regulatory approval, What a question raises about its short -term availability. A little note. SMRs are advanced nuclear reactors with a power capacity of up to 300 electric megawatts per unit, which represents about a third of the generation capacity of conventional nuclear reactors. These reactors can be assembled at the factory and transported to the installation site, which facilitates its deployment in areas with limited infrastructure or in combination with renewable sources to provide a generation of flexible electricity and low carbon emissions. The Danish energy matrix. More than 80% of electricity From the country comes from its wind farms on the high seas, consolidating as a totally renewable country. In addition, it is interconnected with its neighbors, Sweden and Norway, which supply hydroelectric and nuclear energy almost immediately. Voices found. The debate on nuclear energy has polarized the Danish Parliament. As has detailed The Financial Times, four right -wing games have requested to meet with the minister to support nuclear as reinforcement of the electrical system. While the most environmentalist sectors have warned about the risks inherent to nuclear energy and the possibility of diverting funds and care of renewable energy investments. On the border. Neighboring countries the discussion is lived differently. On the one hand, Sweden has Three reactors in operationbut the current government He is trying to reopen More nuclear plants. On the other hand, Finland Inaugurated a central which has evidenced budgetary problems around nuclear projects. For its part, Norway, although a little further from Denmark, has chosen to focus on hydroelectric energy, staying outside the nuclear debate. Forecasts Denmark is at an energy crossroads. With a matrix based on renewable energy, the country must decide whether to continue betting solely on them or consider nuclear energy as a strategic complement. The experience of its neighbors, advances in SMR technology and the global context of energy crisis will be determining factors in a debate that promises to be long and controversial. Image | Andy Dingley Xataka | China’s energy paradox: an ‘electrostate’ that continues to feed on coal

There is a non -proliferation pact of nuclear weapons. In 2025 what we need is one that avoids murderous robots

by

In 1139 Pope Innocent II prohibited The use of the crossbow. He then described it as “a detestable weapon for God and unworthy for Christians,” although he considered it valid to fight the infidels. The measure was not taken into account, and the crossbow continued to be used in later centuries. The history of weapons has always been linked to these prohibitions, and now there is a especially delicate: the one that affects the so -called “murderous robots.” Prohibited weapons. That example of the crossbows ended up being just one of the many that have surrounded the evolution of the military weapons and its application to war conflicts. In 1970 the Nuclear Non -Proliferation Treaty To avoid the use of nuclear weapons, but international law also prohibits the use of chemical, biological or antipersonnel mines. These agreements are not usually ratified by all countries of the world, but by the vast majority. Beware of autonomous weapons. As indicated In ReutersThe United Nations Organization has called a meeting to regulate the segment of autonomous weapons controlled by artificial intelligence. This type of armament is increasingly used in modern war conflicts, and experts warn: it is time to put limits to the use of this lethal technology. The Ukraine War as an example. What is being lived in the Ukraine war is a sign of how this type of autonomous weapons are being used. The drones and robots They are being used Notable form against Russian troops, and there is already drones throwing drones to attack other drones. The relevance From this type of weapons it has been even affected by the commercial war between the US and China, which makes DANGER PRODUCTION AND EXPORT of these autonomous vehicles. In The New York Times They already warned of the rise of the fearsome “kamikaze drones” and their use in this conflict. Ten years talking about prohibiting murderous robots. In Xataka we have been talking about the danger of weapons with AI and drifting towards the famous “murderous robots”. He debate On the potential prohibition of murderous robots It comes from afarand organizations like Human Rights Watch has been trying to ban them since 2015 before it’s late. The researchers themselves already They warned of that danger In 2017 and Brad Smith, president of Microsoft, claimed that these murderous robots They are “unstoppable”. However, there are many countries that They have continued developing them, and there is no consensus when putting limits in this dangerous area. Deadline. The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, has established that 2026 is the deadline for all countries to establish clear rules in the use of weapons with artificial intelligence. His words are clear: these autonomous armament systems are “politically unacceptable, morally disgusting” and should be prohibited. “ There is no consensus. What is missing is the aforementioned consensus: Alexander Kmentt, head of armament control in the Austrian Foreign Ministry, explained it: “Time is pressing to stop the nightmares that some of the most prestigious experts warn,” he said. Some great personalities of the technological world such as Elon Musk or Demis Hassabis They already warned of the problem in 2018 and asked the UN to ban autonomous weapons. The military resists. Diplomatic efforts face military controls, which according to Reuters resist regulation because that could blur the advantages posed by these technologies on the battlefield. This last meeting of the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCWfor its acronym in English) is the last edition of some meetings that have been held since 2014. Participants have been necessary “a legally binding treaty” for UN countries. But some countries prefer to go to their rhythm. Many countries support that general agreement, but USA, Russia, China and India prefer to have national regulations or that existing international laws are applied, according to Amnesty International. A US Pentagon spokesman said in Reuters that “we are not convinced that existing laws are insufficient” and stressed that autonomous weapons could raise a lower risk for civilians than conventional weapons. And since there is no regulation, there is proliferation. The lack of these limits is causing a clear development of this type of autonomous weapons. The experts of Future of Life Institute They have monitored the deployment of about 200 autonomous weapons systems in Ukraine, the Middle East and Africa. Russian forces have deployed some 3,000 kamikaze drones Veter in Ukraine, according to that data, and as we have indicated in several occasions In Xataka, that country has in these drones one of its Critical elements To attack Russian goals. Duality. As my partner Javier Jiménez said In a fantastic theme That he prepared in 2018, another of the problems with this debate is that “it is very difficult to determine what to prohibit and what not in a world as strongly computerized as the war.” The key is not so much in technological and ethical, and here we are facing a dual technology capable of being used for civil and military purposes. Here the reflection was clear: “No one is going to give a strategic military asset for an ethical issue,” he said. He added as a conclusion that “beyond alarmism, we need tools” to identify, monitor and control the development of these weapons because “neither good intentions nor self -control have worked well in the past.” A lot of money at stake. But as always, one of the factors of this industry is that there is a lot of money at stake, and more when there is a renewed fever for Increase defense budgets. Laura Nolan, of the Stop Killer Robots activist organization, made it clear that there is no guarantee that technology companies will be responsible when developing these systems: “In general, we do not trust that industries are self -regulated … there is no reason why defense or technology companies must be more worthy of trust.” In Xataka | Ukraine has found a solution to China’s veto in drones: it’s called Hell, it’s a “home” missile and … Read more

After the blackout, the government defended the nuclear closure because “in Spain there is no uranium.” Reality is more complicated

by

The question of uranium has returned to the forefront after the president of the Government affirm that “in Spain there is no uranium and therefore we will have to import it.” Although Spain has large uranium deposits, reality is always more complicated than the usual black or white policy. The second European country with more uranium. Spain has between 25,000 and 30,000 tons of uranium, “the second most important reserves of the European Union,” According to the geologist Jesús Martínez Frías. Both the ‘Red Book’ of the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) as the National Geographic Institute (IGN) indicate the existence of resources with the possibility of exploitation in Spanish territory, mainly in the province of Salamanca. Why they stopped exploding. Spain had uranium mining, but The last mine closed in 2000 for the “exhaustion of economically exploitable mining resources”, according to the Ministry for Ecological Transition. The Spanish Nuclear Society (SNE) said that production costs had exceeded 30% market prices, which made its continuity unfeasible. Two decades later, the Law 7/2021 of climate change and energy transition Truncó any new attempt To exploit the deposits: “Due to their prejudices, their cost will not be granted new exploration, research or concessions of exploitation of radioactive minerals, nor will new authorization requests be admitted.” Environmental problems. The risk of radioactive water contamination is another elephant in the room. A study Posted by Environmental Pollution In 2018 he documented “much higher” uranium concentrations than background geochemical levels near old mines abandoned in Salamanca. The levels in the soil ranged between 207.2 and 542.4 mg kg⁻¹, when the natural background levels are 29.8 mg kg⁻¹ for granite and 71.2 mg kg⁻¹ for slate. The study proposed environmental restoration measures, such as reforestation, in areas close to old farms. They are not entirely unfeasible. The political landscape has changed with the European Union in search of energy sovereignty and resources. The economic landscape too. With The price of upward uraniumthe Berkeley Minera company has a revived interest in its Retortillo project. The request for exploitation of this deposit was delivered before Law 7/2021 applied, but the Nuclear Safety Council also issued An unfavorable environmental report for “the low reliability and the high uncertainties of security analysis in geotechnical and hydrogeological aspects.” Uranium you have to enrich it. Although there was a political change that leads to the reactivation of Retry, the uranium that is extracted from the earth (natural uranium) barely contains 0.7% of Uranium-235, the necessary physiognable isotope for most nuclear reactors. It would be necessary to enrich uranium, a process that consists in increasing the concentration of uranium-235 to 3-5% levels for light water reactors, which are the most common. Spain does not have its own high -scale enriched uranium, or facilities in which to enrich uranium at the industrial level for use as fuel in nuclear centrals. Can Spain enrich uranium? Spain had the capacity to produce uranium concentrates (in the form of yellow cakes or Yellowcakes), But obtaining enriched uranium is a subsequent, technologically more complex and expensive process, dominated by a few countries. Today, 60% He leaves Russia and China. ENUSA (the national uranium company) already had difficulty replacing Russian enriched uranium after Commercial vetoes for the Ukraine War. Enriching it would be a major challenge. A change of direction. In the new geopolitical context, the European Union is promoting the reactivation of mining to ensure a sovereign supply of key materials for energy transition and defense. Spain is rich in Uranium, but also in resources such as copper, which is the second EU producer. Besides, It has lithiumcobalt, Coltán and possible lower land deposits. Seven of the 47 new Strategic Mining Projects promoted by the EU They will be developed in Spainalthough most face the rejection of environmental organizations for its environmental impact, such as the lithium mine in Cáceres. The epicenter of the debate. Discussions on Spanish uranium are a broader reflex of tensions: the strategic autonomy of resources, the imperatives of the energy transition, environmental protection and social acceptance of mining activity. In the end, the epicenter of the debate is the high cost of building and maintaining traditional nuclear plants in the face of renewable energy sources, of which Spain is world power. Only last year, Spain produced 148,999 GWh of renewable energy, 56.8% of Mix. If the blackout was A notice that the electricity is not prepared To stabilize large renewable energy fluctuations, what touches is wondering what are the investments in storage, investors, interconnections and energy sources alternative to pollutants combined cycles of gas to avoid another blackout. Everything is said regarding the closure of nuclear plants or the extraction of uranium in Spain, but the solar industry will not go anywhere. Image | Tecnatom In Xataka | In Salamanca there is a high -tech nuclear fuel bars factory that exports to all of Europe: we have visited it

China is immersed in a nuclear revolution and needs industrial amounts of Uranium. His solution: “fish” in the sea

by

China is one of the countries that is most promoting the adoption of renewable energy thanks to Great ‘farms’ and market saturation of solar panels. At the same time, they have approved the Construction of ten new nuclear reactors. It may seem a contradiction, but in the midst of a Strong commercial warit is another step in energy self -sufficiency, and to achieve it they will need tons of uranium. Your solution? Squeeze the uranium of the seas. Marine mine. The country account with 56 nuclear reactors and has between 25 and 29 under construction. This implies that they need a lot of Uranium and the problem is that they do not produce enough. HE esteem That, in 2023, China’s production was only 1,700 tons, 4% worldwide, and although they have strong reserves, they need more. In turn, China imported Some 22,000 tons in 2024 and have begun to put solutions. In 2024 began The construction of the National Project of Uranium Nº1 in Ordos. It will become the largest uranium mine in the country and a few months ago They announced that had discovered another important site, also in Ordos. However, it still is not enough, so they have seen the sea. Uranium fish. Because yes: there is uranium in the oceans. Its concentration is extremely low, about 3 micrograms per liter, but due to oceanic immensity, it is estimated that the total is 4.5 billion tons of uranium. There are a thousand times more uranium in the seas than in known land reserves. Extract Uranium from the sea is not something new and, during the 80s, Japan led the development of marine uranium extraction techniques. The problem is that it is a complex and, above all, inefficient process. That is why researchers focus on active uranium collection methods‘dapando’ different materials to be able to extract more material per liter. It is also a expensive method, about ten times more to extract it from terrestrial sources. Miraculous material. But this is where the Chinese team of the Frontiers Science Center For Rare isotopes of the University of Lanzhou enters. In a study published in NatureThey explain that the key to extracting more efficient marine uranium resides in the MOF, or metal-organic frameworks. It is a crystalline material composed of metal ions that are coordinated with organic elements to form structures of great porosity. It is like an extremely efficient fishing network to catch small particles that, in the case of uranium, allows you to better separate this element from others to which it can be attached. The Chinese team has dopa with Dipniletinelo molecules and claim that this new DAE-MOF material allows an uranium absorption capacity of 588 mg per gram, according to the tests. This involves an efficiency 40 times higher when separating uranium from metals and vanadium and has been tested both in simulated and real sea water. Aim. The idea is now to create test extraction plants this year, with pilot plants on the tons scale for 2035 and with a continuous production by 2050. wait That China’s demand for uranium is more than 40,000 tons in 2040, so land mines in conjunction with these marine alternative sources are essential to achieve the goal. Without a doubt, it is an advance in marine uranium extraction at a time when the rest of the players on this board are also found Looking for ways to get more out of the sea for energy independence at a time when buying to other countries He has put up legs. And the United States, of course, is also in that fight, with the US Department of Energy analyzing The technical, economic and environmental viability of large -scale uranium extraction in its waters. Images | Robordouderio, Robert Taylor from StirlingNature In Xataka | Spanish nuclear have been criticized for their role in the blackout. This was what they did before, during and after collapse

Spanish nuclear have been criticized for their role in the blackout. This was what they did before, during and after collapse

by

On April 29, just a few hours after Total collapse of the electricity grid Spanish, Pedro Sánchez, the president of the Government of Spain, He made these statements: “Citizens should know that during this crisis nuclear power plants, far from being a solution, have been a problem Because they were turned off. And it has been necessary to divert large amounts of energy to maintain their stable nuclei. At this time there are two nuclear centrals activated, and they are not because they are needed, but because their activation was already planned. “ His words require several nuances if we want to know in some detail what was the role of Spanish nuclear facilities in this incident and what they did before, during and after the total blackout. The first thing is worth repairing is that only three of the seven nuclear reactors of the Spanish park were turned off: the Trillo because the technicians were recharging fuel barsand those of Almaraz I and chests due to the needs that the electric market had at that time. The other four nuclear reactors, those of Almaraz II, Ascó I and II and Vandellós II, were operating normally before the blackout occurred. If we have this present the statement of Pedro Sánchez in which he argues that “(…) nuclear power plants, far from being a solution, have been a problem because they were turned off (…)” is not right. As we have just seen, Four reactors were delivering electricity to the network with total normality. In any case, the most interesting is what happened just when the collapse occurred. Security systems went into action to guarantee a safe stop Nuclear reactors are prepared to stop fission reactions whenever. The procedure that is used, very broadly, consists of introducing the control bars in the active section of the vessel, which are made of metal alloys of boron, cadmium or hafnio because these chemical elements have the ability to absorb a large number of neutrons. Fission reactions stop very quickly thanks to the effect of control bars, but, and this is very important, nuclear reactors have a great thermal inertia. This simply means that once the flow of neutron has stopped completely the reactor continues to generate residual heat due to the disintegration of products derived from nuclear fission. The main consequence of this behavior is evident: It is essential to sustain core cooling of the reactor even although this machine has stopped by introducing the control bars and modifying the composition of the refrigerant By adding boric acid to the primary circuitwhich also has a very high index of neutron absorption. Active and liabilities refrigeration systems must ensure that residual heat does not compromise the integrity of the reactor Active and passive cooling systems have to ensure that residual heat does not compromise the integrity of the reactor, and, curiously, thermal inertia can last even for several days. When on April 28 there was the collapse of the Electric Red the four reactors that were in operation were automatically stopped and the security systems that have been designed to hold a safe stop were activated. The first thing that happened was that autonomous diesel generators started automatically and generated the electricity that was necessary at that time to keep the entire installation on a safe stop. Everything was executed as planned according to the Nuclear Safety Council. A few hours later, when the supply of electricity from abroad resumed, the autonomous diesel groups were disconnected and the emergency plan was deactivated. From that moment on, nuclear centrals have been resuming the production of electricity, although before doing so the technicians have carried out the security checks that are necessary. An important note once we have reached this point: the recovery of the activity of nuclear power plants and their synchronization with the electricity grid are carried out as the system operator, which is Red Eléctrica de España, and the electricity market requires it. A week after the total blackout we have no solid reason to conclude that Spanish nuclear power plants have put us in danger. Image | Nuclear forum More information | Nuclear forum In Xataka | China and Russia have an extremely ambitious plan: in 2028 they will build a nuclear power plant on the moon

Since the end of World War II there have only been two countries with nuclear weapons at war. They just restart it

by

And suddenly, the Indian army has launched An aerial offensive as it is not remembered in a long time against several positions in Pakistan and in the Kashmir administered by Islamabad. As we will see below, the tense story between the two territories came long, but above any other interpretation at this time, there is something that completely changes the hostility between the two nations. He Theme “Nuclear”. Context of a history of distrust. The conflict between India and Pakistan for Cashmerea region of the Himalayas disputed from the partition of India in 1947, has been a Constant source of tensionswars and insurgency between two nations that today have nuclear weapons. Its origin dates back to the decision of Maharajá Hindu of join the territory to India After an incursion of Pakistani militias, which unleashed the first war between the two countries. Since then, military clashes have occurred (1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999), provisional agreements such as the high fire of 1949 and the creation of the “Control line” in 1972as well as repeated reconciliation attempts that have failed, as happened after The Peace Summit of 1999, which was followed months later by a new armed conflict. More deaths. The situation is worsened in 1987 With the emergence of a separatist insurgency in the Indian part of Kashmir, fueled by the political discomfort and support of Pakistan, which led to a decade of intense violence. To get an idea, throughout the years 2000 and 2010, Kashmir more militarized on the planetwith regular bursts of violence. In 2019, after an attack that He killed 40 Indian soldiersIndia responded with Air attacks In Pakistan and, subsequently, the Narendra Modi government suppressed autonomy Constitutional of Kashmira, imposed a communications blackout and arrested thousands of local leaders, causing international criticism, although with the argument of restoring order and reducing terrorism. In April 2025, a brutal attack in which 26 civilians diedmostly Hindu tourists, turned on the polvorín again. India accused terrorists based on Pakistan, although he denied all involvement. A symbolic retaliation. The attack of a few hours ago, An aerial offensive against nine goals in Pakistan And in the Pakistani part of Kashmira, it is a retaliation for the terrorist attack of April 22. The military operation, Baptized Sindor (In reference to the red dust that symbolizes marriage in the Hindu tradition), it was presented by New Delhi as “measure, responsible and non-escalative”, directed exclusively against terrorist groups camps linked to Lashkar-E-Taiba and Jaish-E-Mohammad, both based on Pakistan. However, the scope of the attacks (which for the first time have hit areas outside the disputed region, within the heart of the Punyab Pakistani) represents a dangerous climb that leaves us on a new stage. Pakistan denounced the action as a “flagrant war act” and promised to respond with a “measure but forceful” retaliation at the time and place of his choice. The immediate tension has been aggravated with reports of fallen aircraft (at least two in Indian territory) and civil victims by fire of Pakistani artillery On the border. Map of states with nuclear weapons in the world The nuclear threat. We already said it at the beginning. This last round of clashes between two nations is not “one more” for one reason: its Nuclear weapons They revive ancient fears. They both possess Developed nuclear arsenals After atomic essays in 1998 that formalized their status as states with this type of weapons. According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates (SIPRI), India has around 172 nuclear eyelaces, while Pakistan has approximately 170, which makes them two of the nine countries with a nuclear weapons in the world. Different doctrines. The difference is that both maintain different doctrines. India holds one policy of “not first use”although its doctrine allows massive reprisals to a nuclear attack, while Pakistan has not adopted A formal posture of not first use and maintains a “plausible” deterrence strategy, supported by tactical nuclear weapons to counteract Indian conventional superiority. Although neither nations has deployed missiles with eyelets Permanently, both have land, aerial and, in the case of India, maritime launching systems, which constitutes a capacity of second developing attack. Persistent rivalry, border scarves and the current risk of rapid climbing make the situation a new focus of concern on global nuclear safety. Unprecedented from 2gm. The truth is that, if we stick to the definition of war, from World War II There has been no such worrying confrontation Between two nations. The “nuclear” theme changes everything. The closest thing to the current dispute between India and Pakistan and that “as nuclear” was halfway, in the Korea Warwhen direct clashes occurred Between US and Soviet fightersalthough Moscow never officially recognized them at that time. These fights occurred mainly in the called “Callejón de los Mig”near the Yalu River, on the border between North Korea and China. So, Soviet pilots, with MIG-15 aircraft and using North Korean or Chinese badges, they met American fighters, especially F-86 Sabre. Although it remained a secret to avoid open confrontation between both superpowers, subsequent records confirmed that hundreds of Soviet pilots They participated directly In the Air War. That said, it was not technically a war between the two nations, at least not in the terms of the current conflict. A fragile balance. In short, events after The air attack of India mark a very serious intensification of the conflict, with unpredictable consequences If a rapid offalized is not achieved. The activation of air defenses in India, the closure of civil airports in sensitive areas and the reports of victims by cross -border fire indicate that the region is in A critical moment. While India affirms that her operation was precise and surgical, limited to terrorist camps, the fact of bombing areas outside of Kashmir has redraws the limits of the conflict. In the absence of a bilateral mechanism of effective containment and with the international community limited to rhetorical exhortations, the risk of an uncontrolled escalation between two nuclear powers remains very present. Cashmere, … Read more

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

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

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

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