renewable

Europe is looking for a place to put its AI gigafactory. Spain and Portugal are showing all their renewable plumage

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There is a concept that should be familiar with: technological sovereignty. The United States is looking for her in terms of semiconductors so as not to depend on Taiwan. China wants her with the same goal and with the intention of strengthen your industry. And Europe is also pursuing it. Within this search is the idea of ​​strengthening European sovereignty in artificial intelligence by building AI gigafactories. And Spain and Portugal are clear about one thing: they want to be that node of European AI. InvestAI. Within this search for independence, the truth is that Europe has a long way to go. On the world stage, they depend on the Dutch ASML to create cutting-edge chipsbut Taiwan and China are the world’s factory and the United States has been a key partner both in software as in space matter. Seeing the recent course of the United StatesEurope has realized that it cannot depend so much on foreign alliances and that its key systems are not European, and it is going to dig deep into its pockets. 200 billion euros is what the European Commission’s InvestAI initiative has to invest in programs focused on the development of artificial intelligence. Within it, there are another 20,000 million saved to build gigafactories. GigafactorIA. Its name is quite revealing and it is about huge data centers with capacity for hundreds of thousands of chips with the objective of both training and inferring artificial intelligence models. The plan was launched a few months ago with the reconversion of seven European data centers in data centers for AI and with one objective: that European companies stop turning to foreign ones. For example, the French Mistral signed with Microsoft to be able to use its systems to train Le Chat. The idea is that this be done ‘at home’. It is estimated that one of these gigafactories may have more than 100,000 state-of-the-art AI processors and they are expected to be optimized to have low consumption, reuse of resources such as water and be a strategic node close to other companies, universities and serve to attract talent. Strategy. Spain has been for a few months tempting American companies to build their data centers in the national territory. Aragon has become one of those strategic pointsbut also Madrid either Tarragona. Now, there are other municipalities that oppose it (something that not only happens in Spain). Within this strategy of European technological sovereignty, Spain has two aces up your sleeve: Mora la Nova in Tarragona and San Fernando de Henares in Madrid. They are the two municipalities that could host one of these AI gigafactories and that would take advantage of the technological and energy infrastructure in the area to accelerate the projects. The information is not new, but now Portugal joins in. As detail From Moncloa, both countries are going to carry out a series of bilateral efforts to be at the energy and technological head of Europe, doing emphasis on the coordination of artificial intelligence projects. Because Spain wants the European gigafactory and Portugal too. The neighboring country is already developing a data center in Sines, and the two countries are playing their cards. Energy. Portugal plays the card that Sines has a good connection with the Atlantic submarine cables. Spain also has a powerful argument: if Europe wants AI gigafactories to be energy efficient, the country has a renewable infrastructure that can help make AI independent of gas or coal. Through the agreement between the two, the intention to collaborate to take advantage of the complementary capabilities and synergies between both countries is put on the table. Problem. There are several. On the one hand, the energy ones. Although Spain is one of the Europe’s powers in terms of renewable energyartificial intelligence demands a lot, a lot of energy at peak times. So much so that not only Big Tech have private projects to open nuclear power plantsbut it has been shown that it is necessary turn to coal to meet demand. Because AI needs sustained energy, but above all fast and immediately accessible in the most stressful moments. And there renewables only comply if there are huge batteries involved. On the other hand, Europe is now building its infrastructure… and it is the worst time. If you want gigafactories to have the latest generation chips, it means buying NVIDIA’s H200s. The problem is that these chips, which are currently leading the way, will be surpassed in the short term by a new generation. NVIDIA is already working at full capacity on Vera Rubinand it is not a more powerful chip, but a paradigm shift. This game of being at the cutting edge of AI is slow because the infrastructure has to be built. But, above all, it is expensive. In any case, the results on which countries will host the gigafactories are expected to be published this spring, and we will see if the Spain-Portugal candidacy convinces the Commission. Images | Moncloa, chaddavis In Xataka | Spain has a plan to capture more data centers than anyone else: “shield” them from energy costs

the plan to implement 16,000 MW of batteries to save renewable surplus

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Spain is a world power in wind and solar energy: the graphics say it where it fares quite well against much larger countries and also the records he is breaking year by year. None of the world’s major economies came close to level of integration of renewables like Spain and Portugal already in 2024. In fact, there is so much that it reaches unbalance the electrical grid and what has he done to him become an export power. And yet, the blackout of April 28, 2025 He put Spain in front of an uncomfortable truth: I didn’t have enough batteries to accompany the boom of its renewables. So Spain is doing its homework: it is the second country with the most battery storage projects in the world, only behind the United States, according to this Ernst & Young report that analyzes the evolution and perspectives of the sector. Why is it important. Because the implementation of enough BESS would end one of the big problems with renewables: they provide energy intermittently, not on demand. If there is no storage, the excess is wasted (exporting is an option, but France is in the middle). Batteries are what is missing for the energy transition to be a reality, a reality that implies achieving energy sovereignty. On the other hand, with a storage system sized to the capacity, the batteries would function as a blackout-proof airbag in a matter of milliseconds in the event of possible failures. Finally, the possibility of being able to store energy when it is cheap (during very sunny hours) and release it would help alleviate electricity bills. Brief notes on the BESS. Energy storage batteries for the electrical grid or BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) They are not just huge mobile phone batteries, but rather they are storage systems the size of industrial containers (such as those on ships) packed with electrochemical cells with integrated electronics to inject or absorb energy into the grid in real time. They work as if they were a kind of shock absorber to store excess energy that is released later, when necessary. Inside there is a kind of management brain to control its status, power inverters so that the energy is usable on a domestic and industrial scale, and control software that decides when charging or discharging occurs. It’s time. The 2025 blackout was a friendly reminder of the situation, but it also helps that the price of lithium-ion batteries has dropped drastically: from 2014 to 2024 it fell 73% and continues to plummet: now it is at a minimum of 78 dollars per megawatt-hour. This collapse in costs is working as a catalyst for investment. The Spain of batteries, in figures. The EY report speaks of a planned business volume of 2,000 million euros in the form of projects under development until 2030 to store 16,000 MW. By then, the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan hope to have 22,500 MW of storage. The Expansion medium puts This data in perspective: those 16 GW represent a 29% share of everything projected on a global scale. Only the United States exceeds that figure. To make it possible, there is already a committed public investment: 750 million euros come from the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, which is added to the 699 million European funds. The ball is in the Administration’s court. Everything mentioned so far are projects and not realities, that is, having these storage systems plugged into the electrical grid. Despite the volume of business and public aid, it is the economic viability that will make these projects go from paper to materialization. More specifically, the sector is waiting for the Spanish Government to develop a regulatory framework on how payment will be for these infrastructures and the service they provide to the network. These rewards will define their long-term profitability and therefore, whether companies decide to execute them or not. In Xataka | Spain’s electricity market has broken: there is so much energy left over that we are using the reservoirs like giant batteries In Xataka | Andalusia is going to become the “battery” of Spain: why it will keep almost half of European funds for batteries Cover | RawPixel

the first large pure hydrogen turbine to fight renewable waste

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Talking about renewable energies is talking about China. Although they continue to burn coal and gas and want to become an oil power, the country is positioning itself as the major player in renewables. Also of the ‘megastructures’. And, combining both, we have Jupiter I. It is the first 30 MW class turbine in the world that works with pure hydrogen, it has just been launched. light and they aspire for it to be the solution to one of the biggest renewable energy problems. Take advantage of surplus energy. Jupiter I. Like practically everything that has to do with energy and China, the numbers of this plant are, to say the least, striking. Now we will get into the fact that it is the first 30 MW class turbine that runs on pure hydrogen. There are others in the world that operate in pilot mode on a scale of 5 or 10 MW, but they are natural gas turbines that have been converted. Jupiter I has been designed from the ground up as a pure hydrogen machine that, in combined cycle mode, can generate 48 MWh. It is estimated that it is enough to satisfy the daily demand of more than 5,500 homes. Those responsible for the turbine they claim that the machine “can use more than 30,000 m³ of hydrogen per hour, which calculated annually is the equivalent of 500 million kWh.” In perspectiveit’s like filling the gigantic Hindenburg airship 25 times every hour. And the key to this is that it is electricity stored in the form of hydrogen pure hydrogen. Although it has not fully caught on in sectors such as utility vehicles, hydrogen has the potential to be one of the fuels that helps achieve decarbonization objectives. It all depends on its color: green is achieved through renewable energy and black through burning coal, for example. Turbines are classified according to the type of fuel they burn and the percentage of hydrogen in the mixture. There are those that use only up to 20% H2, others that use 50% H2 and those that use pure hydrogen, which operate entirely with this fuel. They are usually pilot or demonstration units, but Jupiter 1 is the first of its kind in which all its systems (combustion chamber, injection and flame control) are optimized for that fuel. Megaplant. The turbine is not isolated. It is located in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, and is part of a larger system. It is inside a 500 MW wind farm. It is not an astronomical figure considering what we are used to, but it is important to remember that not all the energy produced by renewables is stored correctly. Much of it is wasted, either because there are not enough batteries, or because it is not consumed when needed or because it is stored and lost. How it works. That’s where Jupiter I comes into play. The system works through a kind of closed cycle of electricity – hydrogen – electricity. When wind turbines generate more energy than the grid can consume and it is not going to be stored in batteries, turbines like this one can use that excess to produce green hydrogen. Once produced, it is stored in tanks, and at the Ordos plant there are a dozen of 1,875 m3 each. If the grid is stable and can operate well with renewables, that hydrogen is stored there, but in times of greater demand or when renewables cannot satisfy it, that stored green hydrogen comes into play to produce emissions-free and immediately accessible electricity. Fighting deserts. Placing a hydrogen turbine right in a renewable plant solves the challenge of wasting electricity, but also that of transporting hydrogen, which we have already seen is complicated. Precisely, that is where those responsible say that the technology has great potential. It is in the deserts where China has found an oasis of renewable energy, and having turbines of this style can further enhance those megascale energy projects – greater than 1 GW – that China is deploying. Now we have to see if it fulfills what it promises, since it is the first of a pilot project, but according to warned by the China National Energy Administration in June this year, it will not be the last. Image | FreePik and Pexels In Xataka | We have known for years that the future of wind power was in the sea and yet only one country has believed it: China

China activated a renewable “Marshall Plan” in 2011. It is achieving more than just decarbonizing the planet

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Between 1948 and 1952, United States destination 13.3 billion dollars at the time to rebuild Western Europe after the Second World War. This strategy was called the ‘Marshall Plan’. China has its own Marshall Plan, one focused on accelerating the development of ‘green’ technologies on a global scale. And it is redrawing the energy map of developing countries. The Green Marshall Plan. It is estimated that, since 2011, China has invested a whopping $227 billion in more than 450 new energy manufacturing projects. Of that amount, around 88% are concentrated from 2022, which shows an impressive acceleration in its roadmap. BRI. One of the centerpieces of the Xi Jinping government’s foreign policy is the Belt and Road Initiative, or “Belt and Road Initiative“The idea was to create a new concept of international relations based on free trade that took the ancient Silk Road as a model (something that China has taken up). Much of this investment in green energy is going to the countries that are part of the BRI, and only in 2024 will China invested 11.8 billion dollars in green energy. In the first six months of 2025, investment was 9.7 billion, which shows another acceleration in the expansion of its green policy beyond its borders. Overproduction as a lever of change. And, if the question is “why,” the answer is “because they can.” Although China continues to extract coal yqwants to become an oil powerhas also strongly supported the renewable energy sector. So much so that they have achieved an overwhelming manufacturing advantage compared to the West. HE esteem that China produces 80% of the world’s solar panels, 75% of lithium batteries and 70% of wind turbines. They have such strong internal competition that their companies have had to create a kind of OPEC to avoid stepping on each other. And, of course, this enormous production has collapsed the market: solar panels have rock-bottom priceshave crushed Western competition and these low prices allow developing countries or countries that want to change their energy model to do so at a lower cost than a few years ago. Proper names. In 2024, China exported technologies related to renewables (panels, turbines, batteries and electric vehicles) worth 177 billion dollars, which is equivalent to 5% of its total exports. Being the factory of the worldit’s outrageous. But of that figure, 72 billion were allocated to developing countries. And not only because those countries are buying from China, but because China is investing, directly, in them. An example is Ethiopia. In 2024, they banned the importation of new gasoline cars with the aim of betting on new energy ones. But at the same time, between 2011 and 2018, China invested 4 billion in the Ethiopian energy sector, with multiple wind farms or the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. This year, another 500 million dollars have ended up in solar manufacturing plants: Chinese companies are establishing themselves in those countries. Another example is Moroccowith battery factories from chinese manufacturers to feed electric cars. In general, China is moving through Africa supporting this energy transition of countries traditionally very dependent on fossil fuels, but they are not leaving empty-handed: they are also building infrastructures that allow them to exploit mines of critical materials, a fundamental leg of the Chinese technological business and geopolitics. China’s ‘Great Solar Wall’ in 2017 And in December 2024 Brazil, like China. HE esteem that 90% of the solar panels installed in Africa are Chinese, and they are also expanding throughout Latin America. On the one hand, with influence: they build infrastructure and are becoming a key player in the railway rebirth of South America. On the other hand, they are installing factories in several countries. And there Brazil has moved very intelligently. The country increased tariffs on all automobile imports to force something that China itself did years ago when Western manufacturers wanted to enter the country: to open factories in its territory. BYD or Great Wall Motors are setting up plants in Brazil. Strange bedfellows. And then there is India. Diplomatic relations between both countries are not at their best and, in fact, India is taking advantage of any excuse to remind China that they also have military muscle. However, on the other side of those tensions, we find a country that is experiencing explosive growth in renewable capacitygoing from 190 GW installed to almost 500 GW projected by 2030. And what is making that change possible is the cmassive purchase of renewable technologies to China. India buys 17% of the solar cells that China exports, which creates a brutal technological dependency, as well as a dilemma: they need green energy with immediate availability, but they also want to develop their own industrial capabilities. And this overproduction in China, with such low prices, makes the goal of national manufacturing less attractive. Taking the role of the US. And, precisely, it was during the COP30 held a few days ago in Brazil, where China’s role was highlighted. In a report by The New York Times point out how, in the Paris Agreement, rich countries relied on poorer ones to begin taking measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In some cases, it remained a simple promise while developing countries claimed their right to industrialization, something for which they have been using fossil fuels. China has seen the gap and thanks to cheap renewables, these developing countries can continue their industrialization in a more environmentally friendly way. And we go back to what we did before: China presenting itself as a pillar of global stability in an event in which the United States has not made an appearance. And while Europe and the US analyze what to do, China continues to expand its influence. Images | POT, Korea Aerospace Research Institute In Xataka | China is the largest power in renewables. Now you have a problem: what to do with all those used turbines and plates

Renewable gasoline and diesel are the last bastion of combustion cars to be able to circulate in Europe: they have a difficult time

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Whether for lack of infrastructure, strict regulationsocial perception, or by many other factors, electrification is a process that is advancingbut very slowly. Meanwhile, more than 20 million diesel and gasoline vehicles continue to circulate in Spain, many of them more than a decade old (or two). However, there are solutions that try to make this energy transition more bearable, and one of them involves the use of renewable fuels. What exactly are these fuels?. They don’t have a single drop of oil. They are produced from organic waste such as used cooking oils, animal fats, forest waste or crop remains. The catalytic hydrogen generation process transforms these wastes into fuels with properties similar to those derived from petroleum, but with a key difference: the CO₂ they emit when burned is the same as that which plants have previously absorbed from the atmosphere. Here we would therefore speak of a closed cycle, unlike fossil fuels, which release carbon stored underground for millions of years. Emissions. Repsol states that its Nexa diesel can reduce net CO₂ emissions by up to 90% compared to conventional diesel, while your Efitec Nexa gasoline discount more than 70%. In this case, although the engine continues to emit CO₂, it was already in the atmosphere before being converted into fuel. However, there is a nuance: nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) continue to be generated during combustion, because they come from nitrogen in the air when exposed to high temperatures. And for now, studies show conflicting results, with some indicating slight increases in NOₓ with certain biofuels, while others like the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory they conclude that renewable diesel reduces both CO₂ and NOₓ. What is consistent is the reduction of particles and soot. Full compatibility with current cars. This is probably its biggest practical advantage. Any diesel or gasoline vehicle can use these fuels without technical modifications. There is no need to change the engine, adapt the tank, or install new pumps at gas stations. In the case of Repsol, its Nexa diesel also complies with the European standard EN 15940 for paraffinic fuels, and Efitec Nexa gasoline with EN-228. In addition, the company ensures that, thanks to its high cetane number, it improves combustion, reduces engine noise and has a cleaning effect on the injection system. Where to find them in Spain. Repsol clearly leads the deployment, with more than 1,000 stations that offer Nexa diesel and with the goal of reaching 30 stations with Efitec Nexa gasoline by the end of the year. BP too offers HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) in strategic locations such as Tafalla, Getafe, Villacastín Norte or Olaberria, although its network is more limited and is oriented towards professional transport. To locate them, the most practical thing is use web search engines of each company, since they include filters to find gas stations that offer renewable fuels. It is worth remembering that the conventional diesel sold at practically all gas stations in Spain already contains up to 7% biodiesel (B7 label), but it is not comparable to a 100% renewable fuel if we stick to emissions. Cost and availability. Price is one of the main obstacles. Nexa diesel costs approx. 10 cents more per liter than conventional diesel, placing it in the range of premium fuels. Renewable gasoline follows a similar trend. Furthermore, although Repsol has expanded its network, coverage remains limited outside large urban centers and main corridors, especially in terms of renewable gasoline. Industrial production. Repsol produces renewable diesel in its Cartagena refinery and 100% renewable gasoline at the Tarragona plant. The company assures that it has been researching these processes for more than twenty years in collaboration with Honeywell. In 2026, the opening of a new facility in Puertollano with capacity for more than 200,000 tons per year is planned. Who is using them already?. In addition to the fact that anyone can now go to a Repsol gas station to try these fuels, their use has transcended commercial vehicles. And they have been tested in competitions like the Dakar Rallyand even sustainable fuels are used on commercial flights. Also transport companies such as Scania, Alsa or Grupo Sesé have signed agreements for adoption. An intermediate solution. The current European regulations The CO2 emissions test for new vehicles measures emissions from the tailpipe. With this approach, the result is zero for an electric car, but not for one that uses renewable fuel, even if it is carbon neutral in its entire life cycle (from production to consumption). It is for this reason that the industry and defenders of these fuels are asking for a change in the methodology so that the complete life cycle of the fuel is considered. Repsol and other players in the sector They ask for adapted taxation and long-term objectives that provide stability to investments. The Spanish mobile fleet has an average age of 14.5 years and it has more than eight million vehicles that are more than two decades old, according to data from ANFAC (Spanish Association of Automobile and Truck Manufacturers). Therefore, renewable fuels could be an intermediate alternative in this stage of energy transition, especially since they do not leave millions of drivers behind. Cover image | engin akyurt In Xataka | In 2001, Renault launched a car ahead of its time: it was a miserable failure that now has another chance

There is more renewable electricity in the world produced by coal

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Ten years ago, coal lit half planet. Today, it is solar panels and wind turbines that illuminate statistics. In the first half of 2025, the renewables not only covered all the increase in global electrical demand: they exceeded it. A global sorpasso. The report, prepared by Emberanalyze data from 88 countries that represent 93% of global electric demand. Its conclusion marks a before and after: solar and wind energy grew so much that they compensated all the increase in global electrical consumption and still generated surplus. However, there is an even more important point that is that coal generation fell worldwide. Carbon participation fell to 33.1% of global electric mix, while renewables rose to 34.3%. For the first time, the coal was behind. The descent was especially clear in China and Indiawhere coal has always dominated and, therefore, that descent is noted. On the other hand, both in the European Union and in the United States a small rebound was observed, caused by hydroelectric drought and the Gas increase. Renewable energies produced more electricity than coal for the first time recorded in the first half of 2025 | Ember Radiography of the change. The transition is not a statistical anecdote, but a structural phenomenon. World demand increased 369 twh (+2.6 %), moderate growth that was widely covered by solar and wind expansion. On the one hand, the sun remains the most dynamic source on the planet. The solar generation grew 31%, reaching a global quota of 8.8%. However, this is because China It was the great enginecontributing 55% of world solar growth, followed by the United States, the European and Indian Union. On the other hand, the wind keeps the pace. The wind generation increased by 7.7%, to represent 9.2% of the global mix. Although Europe and the United States suffered adverse weather conditions, China increased, registering a 16% increase in their wind production. The money also changed sideways. The other great indicator that this change is structural is in the markets. According to the International Energy Agencythe global investment in energy will reach 3.3 billion dollars, a fairly striking figure. Only ten years ago, renewables were seen as An idealistic bet: faces, intermittent and subsidy dependent. Today they are the new center of financial gravity of the energy system. The proportion of clean investment against fossil went from 2 to 1 in 2015 to 10 to 1 in 2024, a change that reflects a collective market decision. However, not everyone is invited to the party. Emerging markets and developing economies barely receive 15% of world investment In clean energy, despite the fact that its electric demand is the one that grows the most. In addition, they are still trapped between high financial costs, fragile networks and regulatory uncertainty. As Ember warnswithout international financing and technological cooperation, the global rhythm towards zero net emissions could be stopped before achieving the objective. China drives the global transition. Behind the world sorpasso there is an undisputed protagonist: China. Not only leads the production of clean energy, but also the industry that makes it possible: panels, turbines, batteries and smart networks. Its industrial policy has made the country what some analysts describe as an “electrostate”capable of dominating the energy value chains of the 21st century as it dominated the manufacturing. In just six months, China installed 380 GW of new solar capacity – more than all the total capacity of the United States – promoted by a wave of projects prior to new price standards. Thanks to this, its mixture Electric is already renewable 24%, and the emissions of the electrical sector fell 1.7% in half a year. Global challenges. According to Emberthe electricity grid is already the main obstacle to renewable expansion. Solar and wind production increases faster than lines and storage grow. In countries such as Spain or Germany, specific cuts have been registered in solar parks by network saturation. In Japan, operators reduce solar generation on weekends to avoid overloads. This forced disconnection –The call Curtailment– shows a paradox: we have more sun than cables. To the saturation of the networks is added the inequality of access to capital. While China and other economies install renewable gigawatts every month, Africa and Latin America are still waiting for sufficient investments. Hence the urgency of new global mechanisms to channel green capital towards emerging economies and ensure that the transition is truly global. An irreversible turning point. Just a decade ago, coal generated twice as much electricity than renewables. Today, clean energy has surpassed the most polluting source and dominates the growth of the electrical system. China leadsIndia accelerateEurope It adapts and the United States It stops. Prices fall, investments grow and emissions begin to stabilize. The energy transition is no longer a matter of political will: it is an economic law. The turning point is not in the future: it is happening right now. Image | Freepik and Pexels Xataka | In his career for the total domain of the solar panels, a rival has come out: the Spanish Perovskita

There is a renewable energy source that works 24 hours a day, and Japan has opted for it: osmotics

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Omnipresent wind and solar energies have the same problem: intermittency. The wind does not always blow and the sun does not always shine. This dependence on weather conditions It forces us to look for storage solutions OA depend on a 24/7 available source to have a constant supply. But what if that other source was also renewable energy? Japan bets on osmotics. In August, the Japanese city of Fukuoka launched the First osmotic energy center in the country. It is just the second installation of this type in the world and represents more than a pilot test for a technology that promises to revolutionize the energy mix. “I hope it extends not only in Japan, but throughout the world,” said Akihiko Tanioka, an expert in the field of the Tokyo Science Institute. The plant will generate about 880,000 kilowatts-Hora a year to feed part of the desalination plant that supplies fresh water to the city. Although it may seem like a modest figure, equivalent to the consumption of about 220 Japanese homes, its true value is that it works continuously. It is not affected by the weather or time of day, and does not emit carbon dioxide. The power to mix fresh and salted water. Osmotics is a new generation renewable energy based on A natural phenomenon that we all study at the institute: osmosis. When two solutions with different salt concentration are separated by a semipermeable membrane (which lets the water pass, but not the salt), the water of the less concentrated solution flows naturally towards the most concentrated to try to balance the mixture. Fukuoka’s plant places fresh water (treated wastewater) on one side of the membrane, and salt water (sea water) to the other. Fresh water crosses the membrane to the salt water side, increasing volume and pressure on that side. The conression is used to move a turbine that, connected to a generator, produces electricity. Therefore, this renewable source is also known as saline gradient energy or “blue energy”. From the initial promises to the first problems. This technology is not exactly new. Already in 2017, in Xataka we echoed its enormous potential: The studies suggested that it could generate up to 40% of the world energy demand if it would be used in the mouths of all rivers. The challenge was the efficiency of the membranes and the cost of the facilities. The first systems, such as delayed pressure osmosis, suffered bioincructing problems: bacteria blocked membranes, drastically reducing their effectiveness. Other systems, such as “inverse electrodialysis”, were more durable but generated very little energy. The Fukuoka plant, like the first in the world inaugurated in Denmark in 2023 by the Saltpower company, demonstrates that progress in membrane technology is allowing to overcome these obstacles. Nanotechnological membranes. In France, the company Sweetch Energy has developed Much more efficient nanometric size membranes, capable of generating between 20 and 30 watts per square meter. In comparison, the most advanced systems to date generate 12.6 watts. The company seeks to install its first real -scale generator, Osmorhône 1, at the mouth of the Rhone River. The potential of this unique river would reach 500 MW, equivalent to mid -nuclear reactor capable of supplying two million people. And it would be just the beginning. All deltas and estuaries in the world release 30,000 energy from each year, a figure similar to world demand of electricity. Salina bachata in Fukuoka. In addition to the friction of the membranes, the osmotics also loses energy in water pumping. But, as he explains The Guardianthe new Fukuoka plant uses the concentrated brine that remains of the desalination process to increase the salinity difference and, thus, the energy potential available. The inauguration of the Japanese plant and the advances of companies such as Sweetch Energy mark a turning point for the osmotics. They are the first steps to stop being a laboratory promise and become an industrial reality. In a clean, permanent energy, which does not depend on the climate and that can be integrated into existing infrastructures such as ports, desalination makers or locks. Japan has made its bet: the mixture of fresh and salted water will be part of its energy mix. Image | Umi-No-Nakamich Desalination Plant (Obayashi) In Xataka | Japan has just made a monumental bet for Perovskita’s solar panels: they are his best chance against China

How much electricity produces each country with renewable energy, exposed in a graphic

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Europe has been Up on the Renewable Train. This summer they have SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCTION REGRESSESwe are installing new huge wind turbines And, although with contradictions such as import energy from Africait is evident that the continent carries a Cruise speed in renewables. However, that train goes to two speeds, with countries in which renewables are hardly nothing in their electricity generation. And it is something that we can perfectly appreciate on this map elaborated by Visual Capitalist. Vanguard. With Eurostat data until December 2024, we can see that The transition to renewables He goes with the wind in favor. The generation of energy from wind, solar, hydroelectric, the Geothermal and the biofuels They already represent values ​​that exceed 99% of the net electricity generation of some countries. In general, it is estimated that, as of December 2024, the European Union obtained almost 42% of its net electricity from the renewable sources, being wind and hydroelectric plant the fundamental legs of this change. Interestingly, despite all Advances in panel technology and wind turbines, the countries in which renewables are more important have as the protagonist the hydroelectric. This is the case of Albania, which leads the list by generating more than 99% of its electricity from renewables, or Norway. In the case of Denmark, a country that occupies third place, it is the wind that marks the guideline. To the tail… When we said that the train goes to two speeds, we refer to cases such as the Czech Republic, Moldova and Malta. In some areas of Central and Eastern Europe, the fossil fuels are still crucialand the three countries mentioned are the least proportion of renewables in their electricity generation. As a red lantern, we have Kosovo with just 8.8% of its energy from renewables. The sources. Something interesting is to know which are those renewables that are pushing clean energy in Europe. In Spain, for example, We throw ourselves into the arms of the plotbut the energy mix that has contributed to these numbers, depends a lot on each country, and in the European photo, the plot is in third place. According to Eurostat, wind energy meant 39.1% of the renewable energy produced in 2024, followed by 29.9% of the hydroelectric and 22.4% of the solar. The biofuel is far, with 8.1%, and the geothermal energy is marginal, contributing only 0.5%. Situation in 2024 A devastating advance. And beyond distinguishing in countries, if we look at the global situation, we see that more than 40% of the net energy produced by the EU in 2024 comes from renewables. According to Eurostat, 47.3% of electric production, which translates into 1.31 million GW/Hy an increase of 7.7% compared to 2023. Evolution of energy production during the last 35 years In that same graph We can see that fossil fuels have fallen by 7.2% compared to the previous year (almost the same as renewables) and nuclear, despite the plans of some countries, grew by 4.8%. We will see what course this has in 2026, since a Eurobarometer survey carried out in June 2025 Indian Strong support from EU citizens to the adoption of renewables, but we will have to see if that renewable deployment is compatible with another that is being performing ambitious and You need huge amounts of energy: the one Data centers. Images | Eurostat In Xataka | Something is happening with wind energy. Its deployment has stopped while solar energy grows unstoppable

Europa presumes to be a renewable power, but it turns out that it wants to import energy directly from Africa

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The desert sun hits strongly the dusty plains of Tunisia and Algeria. At first glance, they look like empty lands, but they could soon become a mosaic of wind towers, solar fields and batteries capable of storing as much electricity as to feed millions of European homes. It will not be energy for nearby cities: the Mediterranean will cross through submarine cables to light homes, factories and trains on the other side. The European Union has decided that its energy transition will not be built only at home: a good part of its green future will travel from North Africa. A priority list. The European Commission He has just updated Its list of cross -border projects of renewable energy, incorporating five new plans that will have preferential access to the financing of the mechanism connect Europe (CEF) and greater international visibility. Among them, one stands out that symbolizes the new energy strategy of the block: Medlink. According to documents cited by BloombergMedlink plans to install 10 GW of wind energy, solar and storage systems in Tunisia and Algeria. Electricity will travel through two high -voltage marine cables to Italy, with an annual capacity of 28 SWH, enough to cover about 8 % of the Italian electrical demand. The project, promoted by the Italian company ZHEROcould be extended to supply energy to Austria, Germany and Switzerland from 2030. The European Commission establishes that, to enter its list, a project must involve at least two Member States or a Member State and a third country. With this update, thirteen initiatives are part of this special category. Other in motion actors. The impulse is not limited to Tunisia and Algeria. Starting with Morocco that aspires that renewable energies represent 52 % of its installed capacity in 2030 and has launched six green hydrogen megaprojects. Among the companies involved are the Spanish Action and Cepsa, together with European, Arab, Chinese and American giants. These projects will not only produce hydrogen, but also ammonia, steel and green industrial fuels, bound for both international markets and the supply of Europe, According to data collected in Xataka. For its part, Egypt has attracted billions in European investments for solar, wind and green hydrogen plants, much of whose production is destined for export. However, A report reported by The Guardian de Greenpeace He warns that this strategy could limit local decarbonization, keeping the country dependent on imported fossil fuels such as mazut, a oil derivative with high contaminating content. In parallel, Themed also advancesan underwater interconnection project of 600 MW between Tunisia and Italy, independent of Medlink and centered on hydroelectric energy. With its scheduled implementation for 2028, it has financing from the European Reconstruction and Development Bank, the Green Climate Fund and the German Development Bank, As reported Enterprise. The implication of this bet. In Brussels they see it as a double play: accelerate the green transition and reduce the dependence of Russian gas, which collapsed after the invasion of Ukraine. Italy gains weight as a renewable entrance door to the north, and countries like Spain They restore key energy relationships, as the agreement between Naturgy and the Algerian Sonatrach to set gas prices until 2027. The European Commission defends that these interconnections and megaprojects are “essential to meet the objectives of the European Green Pact and reinforce energy security” at a time of global uncertainty. Critical voices have not been long in coming. As they have detailed in a reponnet for The GuardianGreenpeace denounces that Europe runs the risk of “outsourcing” socio -environmental costs to the global south: intensive use of water in arid areas, displacement of communities and prioritization of the European supply on local development. Hanen Keskes, responsible for campaigns of the organization in the Middle East and North Africa has sentenced: “The global north must assume its responsibility and build domestic renewable capacity, instead of outsourcing costs to the global south.” Looking to the future (almost) immediate. The EU has set the objective of importing 10 million tons of renewable hydrogen in 2030. Morocco wants to be one of the main exporters together with Algeria and Egypt, a trend that extends throughout North Africa. In the European energy map, the south of the Mediterranean is ceasing to be a border. Under the sea, high voltage cables will join sunny deserts with industrial cities. It is a historical opportunity to accelerate the decarbonization of the continent provided that, as critics warn, the light that comes to Europe does not leave those who live under the sun that generate it in shade. Image | Unspash and Unspash Xataka | The white gold that unites Morocco and the US in the Sahara: phosphate

Amazon chose Catalonia to develop a pioneer project in renewable energy. Until he ran into politics

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The Government of the Generalitat of Catalonia had on the table a decree that could mark a before and after in the deployment of renewable energy in the territory. Among its beneficiaries were one of Amazon’s most innovative projects worldwide: the installation of a self -consumption wind turbine in its logistics center of El Far d’Empordà (Girona). However, the norm has fallen a victim of the political struggle. A last minute withdrawal. Last Wednesday, the Government chaired by Salvador Illa (PSC) decided to withdraw the decree of the Plenary Seaching of the Parliament in the absence of sufficient support. As the country has collectedthe Minister of Territori, Sílvia Paneque, the decision was due to the objective of “exploring ways of a greater consensus.” But the reality is that the rejection of ERC and the Commons left the initiative without the possibility of moving forward. As detailed by Public DiarioThe Communs argued that the text should be processed as a bill to allow substantial modifications, such as strengthening local participation, passing the Sectorial Territorial PLA per to the implantation of renewable energy (plater) and shielding the public energy company. In parallel, ERC harden its position after the cooling of negotiations with the Government of Spain on tax assignments, such as IRPF management, which resulted in a vote against. The immediate consequences. The fall of the decree has put on the energy sector alert, especially companies with in progress. Such as The country has indicated in a reportAmazon expected the norm to facilitate the development of a pioneering infrastructure in its BCN4 center in Girona, where it employs more than 1,700 people and has invested more than 5,000 million euros in recent years. The project contemplates the installation of a wind turbine of 126 meters and 2.2 MW of power, in addition to photovoltaic plates and a storage battery system. With the withdrawal of the decree, the multinational faces an uncertain regulatory framework, since the local urban regulation – in this case, of the municipality governed by ERC – does not always contemplate this type of infrastructure. The decree provided for these projects of higher public interest, which would allow to overcome municipal obstacles and expedite licenses. The General Directorate of Energy had already granted administrative authorization, but now the project is exposed to possible delays. It was a decisive step. Beyond the Amazon case, such as The avant -garde has explainedthe text included technical measures such as storage regulation through electrical batteries, with 4,000 MW in pending connection projects. The expansion of the power threshold for industrial and cooperative self -consumption, from 100 kW to 500 kW. The transmission of authorizations between companies, unlocking about 800 MW in paralyzed projects. And, finally, the possibility of considering certain projects of higher public interest, overcoming administrative resistance. Model in dispute. However, the decree also aroused the rejection of citizen entities that denounce an energy model imposed from above. The Xarxa Per la Sobirania Energy (XSE) and the Xarxa Catalan per to a fair energy transition warned that the norm opened the door to expropriations of agricultural soils and cut deadlines for public participation and allegations by municipalities, according to public newspaper. For its part, the entity Renovem-us He stood out at the forefront that the extension of the industrial self -consumption threshold would have allowed to unlock “hundreds of projects of cooperatives and energy communities” that now continue in limbo. Look in September. That is the next window to relaunch the decree, although nothing guarantees that the new attempt will prosper. Meanwhile, investments cool and the perception of regulatory insecurity is consolidated. As The country explainedthe Amazon project was not only the first of its kind in Catalonia, but also the first worldwide for multinational with these characteristics. A replicable pilot, a step towards corporate energy self -sufficiency and a powerful message from Empordà to Europe. Catalonia leads in electric production, but goes to the tail in renewables. Just the 15.7% of its consumption is covered with clean sources. If the projects are still stuck, the territory will continue to lose ground compared to other regions that already advance with a firm step towards the energy transition. Image | Unspash and Unspash Xataka | Catalonia has a problem with renewables: it is the most backward community despite being the most produced

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