sun Archives - Page 4 of 4

In case they were happening few things, the sun has just caused a radius blackout with its most powerful eruption of 2025

May 14, 2025 by usatoday24

The sun has decided to remind us that we are in their hands. A new active region of sun spots, called AR4087, has released this morning a solar eruption of class X2.7, the most powerful so far this year. The sun was not asleep. Eruptions, glows or solar flares are classified as Five categories According to its intensity: A, B, C, M and X. Each letter represents events ten times more intense than the previous letter. An eruption X2.7 is located at the lower end of the most powerful category, but remains an important and unusual eruption. Observatories that constantly monitor the solar crown They detected it on May 14 at 08:25 UTC (10:25 in Spain). The X2.7 class flares has been the strongest of 2025, demonstrating that the sun is still awake After last year’s activitywhen it reached the solar maximum. Radio lock. Although it was not directed directly to the Earth, the eruption launched an intense X -ray pulse and extreme ultraviolet radiation that reached our planet at the speed of light. When impacting with the upper atmosphere of the Earth, this radiation has rapidly ionized, interfering with the high frequency radio signals (HF) on the visible face of our planet. As a result, a R3 level radius blackout was detected (cataloged as “strong”) in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The show begins. The sun stain AR4087 remains very active and Soon he will look directly to the Earth As the sun revolves on its own axis. In the last hours he has produced class rashes M5.3, X2.7 and M7.74. The big question now is whether the most powerful eruption was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection, the famous solar plasma and magnetic field languages that, when impacting with the Earth’s magnetic field, can cause geomagnetic storms and intense auroras to different latitudes, Like the historic Red Auroras of 2024. At the moment, the AR4087 region is at the visible edge of the sun, so the earth seems to be out of reach. Image | Spaceweather In Xataka | Webb and Hubble telescopes watched Jupiter’s auroras at the same time. The problem is that they did not see the same

And suddenly, a great battery and the Sun of Murcia saved me from the great blackout

April 29, 2025 by usatoday24

After a crisis, a couple of disturbing war conflicts, Trump’s second mandate And a worldwide pandemic, The biggest blackout in Spain I shouldn’t have caused me so much concern. But at home, at three o’clock at the beginning and with the children newcomers of the school, his nervousness was very evident. And ours. No electricity grid for almost 12 hours And disconnected from the world almost the same hours except for the blessed radio to batteries, at home the tranquility for the tense and indefinite wait came to us in the most unexpected way: the radiant sun of Murcia and some test batteries in Xataka. This is the story of how some Solar panels connected to a large battery The great blackout of Spain mitigated at home. The reality that everything works with electricity The entrance/exit door of the work center, which we usually opened through an application installed on the mobile, only paid attention to our need to exit urgently when the concierge, analog key in hand, opened it and threw from it under the almost 30 degrees of two in the afternoon in Murcia. At the end of April. “Googlear” if the suppliers of the service stations need food to work, something that would have taken me 10 seconds at another time, was the beginning of many hours of energy uncertainty whose solution did not remember that I had at home On the way by car home, with the deposit near the reserve and without knowing for sure if the suppliers need food to function – or possibility of Googlear the answer to my doubt – the radio was the only point of connection with the real situation. Because the theories about what was happening did not take 10 seconds to run from Boca by ear and another ear … Suddenly, everyone had spoken with a family member abroad who confirmed without any doubt that it was a European issue. What European, world. An “makeshift” installation of solar panels on the home terrace With the few news that I could hear about what was happening I got home. The atmosphere was very similar to that of pandemic, with uncertainty dominating everything. And the feeling of living too many things for the first time. The noon food had to improvise according to very clear criteria: use the perishable of a refrigerator that we did not know when it would be operational and resort to gas barbecue. Yes, the induction cuisine does not get along with the lack of electricity. Already with the serenity that gives the stomach well attended, as a game to calm the kids, we analyze the situation at home and draw a plan for the afternoon. We are looking for lanterns, laptops, “powerbanks” and any device that could be charged. The smartphones and tablets between them. To do so we had an immense, literally, allied at home: some ecoflow batteries tested in Xataka. Time to recharge everything rechargeable. And cook the “cooking” With the internal load of the batteries, a main of 4,000 mAh and an assistant of the same capacity, almost 80%, the four plugs and four USB ports (two of type C and two of type a) they began to recharge everything that we found at home. Including the batteries that we already know that they must be in every emergency kit that boasts. Without the possibility of loading of any kind, the solar batteries of the house offered a recharge point to family and friends who requested it The objective was that, if the situation was extended until night, we could have operational devices And of course Lights ready so that, at least at home, the situation was the most similar normality. Batteries, camping and reading/leisure lights for the long wait Since it was still the beginning of the afternoon in Murcia, the batteries continued to recharge to the usual rhythm in their “rush hour”, about 1,000-1.200 W per hour. One of the great advantages of these Ecoflow batteries for recharge is that they can be feed both from the electricity and connected directly to solar panels. The radio we were about to “recycle” last summer We take advantage of this situation of energy surplus for both less important issues and relax with a fresh coffee and to use certain thermomix type appliances, the microwave or a small electric oven. Everything we could take advantage of that solar energy seemed to us a good idea at that time. Things of situations that are first lived. Mobile of friends and family who lived near them were recharged with our house battery We also rejoice at home of having stored an old analog radio because, without data or functional telephone, it was our only source of reliable information. The great blackout was not this time through streets. No neighborhoods. Not even in cities. But the most alarming was that the duration of it was a great unknown. So the very few moments of connectivity allowed us Offer our batteries to family and friends They lived close to recharge their mobile phones. And without sun, the batteries take control of the house With the different official information about everything that happened arriving via radio but on droppers, the sunset reached us at home with the unknown about what would take the electricity grid of our Murcia area to be operational. So without a sun, it was time to start squeezing the Energy stored throughout the day until it exhausts her. At night, the solar battery was ready to use the stored energy and feed the refrigerator for hours and thereby save food for a very valuable time The system that we have ecoflow proof does not allow energy injection to the home network itself if it is not connected to the general. But his poOutput tenance of up to 4000 W gives us the possibility to use powerful appliances in a timely manner, as we did with the water tank or microwave. At night, in … Read more

They only needed sun and plant waste

April 21, 2025 by usatoday24

After staying the practically empty gas reserves, Europe is trying to find a way to reach November with the fully controlled situation and Without relying on Russia. To do this, he has put his goal to import gas from USA either Accept an offer from Chinabut, perhaps, the key is closer than they imagine: in Extremadura. A pioneer gas plant. A year ago The construction began of a 100% renewable natural gas pioneer center in myjadas, Extremadura. This project, developed by the German company Turn2X, will begin operating in May. Totally renewable. The myjadas plant will use a technology known as Power To Gas (P2G). This process consists of combining green hydrogen – obtained by water electrolysis with renewable energy – with biogenic carbon dioxide – proceeds of the decomposition of plant waste or biomass. By together both elements through the reaction of Sabatier, high purity synthetic methane gas is obtained. This synthetic natural gas, created without resorting to fossil sources, has been successfully tested in the Extremadura gas distribution network, According to the newspaper. But let’s not confuse. Although in Spain there are already several plants that They generate biomethanea renewable gas obtained by decomposing organic waste, the case of myjadas goes further. While the conventional biomethane captures the gas generated during the decomposition of waste, this new project does not start from organic matter. Methane is synthesized from scratch by the combination already described, which opens a new route for renewable gas production. The choice of Extremadura. Although the project is not exempt from challenges for The cost of green hydrogen and large -scale production, the choice of Extremadura as an epicenter responds To the numerous sunny hours which offers the territory. In addition, as the German company has detailed, regional agencies have proposed investments and aid throughout the process. Going further with hydrogen. The great bet of Spain and Europe is being green hydrogen. Specifically, in Spain It is positioning himself As one of the great players in this sector, with projects such as the H2Med, a corridor that will connect the Iberian Peninsula with France and Germany to transport renewable hydrogen. Turn2x initiative is significant, since it demonstrates how green hydrogen can go beyond its use in the industry and become a key raw material for other energy sources, such as renewable natural gas. Spain is not only betting on green hydrogen: it is transforming it into concrete solutions. And Extremadura is, today, one of his most promising laboratories. The implementation of this plant not only validates a disruptive technology, but demonstrates that the country can lead the transition to a renewable natural gas, less dependent and more sustainable. Image | Turn2x Xataka | An island in Japan has revolutionized its vehicles. They have turned cow droppings into hydrogen fuel

While the Portuguese enjoyed sun eclipse, their electrical system had a really bad time

March 31, 2025 by usatoday24

Last Saturday, March 29, a partial solar eclipse It was visible in the Iberian Peninsula in the morning. A phenomenon that entertained more than one in this first spring mornings. However, for our Portuguese neighbors it has been a problem for their electricity grid. The absence of the star. During the two hours of eclipse, Portugal lost 560mw of solar generation, which is equivalent to 23% of the country’s electricity production at that time, according to national electrical networks (REN). An imbalance. Solar energy suffered A drop in electricity generation During the astronomical phenomenon, but it was a loss that occurred progressively, approximately 10MW per minute. This situation led to a decline of 8.5% of the electrical production of total consumption, how has expressed a press release THE REN. Return to normal. From 11:30, solar production began to recover at a faster rate, 22MW per minute until it reached its normal intensity. However, the fall was greater than the answer, although it turned to other sources such as hydroelectric and thermal. The balance attempt. Last year, the Portuguese country reached historical records with renewables, covering up to 90% of your demand. However, the eclipse evidenced Portugal’s problem with the storage of energy in batteries and its energy dependence with Spain, how It is observed in the daily balance. An affected interconnection. The eclipse also had an impact on Spain, which ends affecting interconnection Between both countries. At the broader level, the Entso-E network And European Transmission Systems (OST) operators They registered A loss of generation of approximately 21,000 MW during the event. To minimize the impacts, the electric operators of several countries, including Portugal and Spain, they worked together through the service of Short-Term Adequacy (STA)which allows to plan and balance generation and consumption in a seven -day window. Was the impact here very big? In Spain the lack of solar generation, was Supply thanks to wind energy with 31.3% of the electrical production. In addition, after what It has happened in March with heavy rainsfrom the Spanish Electric Red They announced that they had prepared to analyze and anticipate the possible effects of the solar eclipse, guaranteeing the security of the supply and the correct operation of the system. Image | Pexels Xataka | Spain and Portugal have shown how the energy transition is leading: 82% clean electricity in 2024

In 536 the sun began to shine less than the moon. The small ice age began then began

February 1, 2025 by usatoday24

The year 536 is sometimes called “The worst in history”, But this year only marked the beginning of a small ice age. An era of about 15 years in which sunlight was almost unable to reach the surface of the earth. Small ice age. For years it has been discussed what happened in the year 536 that triggered the “small ice age of late antiquity” (Lalia) that lasted until the 550s. The volcanic eruptions of this year and 541 or comet dust had been considered as possible causes, but we had A third hypothesis: An unknown underwater eruption. From historiography to the rings of the trees. From this era of darkness we have record through different sources: some historiographic, such as medieval texts in which there is talk of a sunlight so faint that it barely stood out about that of the moon. Others, more “modern”, such as the analysis of Tree rings. These rings appear as a result of the oscillations in their growth rate, a consequence of the succession of the seasons of the year and factors associated with it, such as the abundance of water. Or the hours of light. The suspects. And the hours of light were not abundant at this time. The cause of this long winter of 15 years would have been in a denser atmosphere full of dust or gas that would have prevented solar radiation from reaching the northern hemisphere. However, we are not sure what our atmosphere overshadowed. Volcanic activity has been the main suspect in the case. We know that the most powerful volcanoes can expel gases in such quantity that they can alter the terrestrial climate, usually for short periods of time. During this decade and a half we had proof of three volcanic eruptions, a “cataclysmic” eruption in 536, caused by a volcano in Iceland; and two others also relevant in 540 and 547. However, there are experts who consider that these three eruptions were not the cause of this small ice age, something else was needed. Submarine volcano. And that “something” could have been an underwater volcano. Is The hypothesis defended by an American team of researchers composed of Dallas Abbott and John Barron. They reached this conclusion when studying Greenland ice samples in which remains of marine microorganisms of tropical waters were found. According to this hypothesis, underwater rashes would have led to the atmosphere not only the gases of these events but also remains of sediments and marine life. An underwater eruption would also have vaporized a large amount of water that would have passed to the atmosphere. Huge consequences. All this would have had severe socio -economic consequences. Historical records speak of years in which cereal crops did not even allow bread, or snowfall in full summer. Towards the year 541 the so -called “Plaga de Justiniano” began in Egypt First epidemic Black plague of the Middle Ages. In the Iberian Peninsula this period of darkness could have unleashed The first of the crises that would end up resulting in the fall of the Visigothic kingdom and the Muslim conquer. Image | NOAA/National Science Foundation In Xataka | We believed that the huge eruption of Hunga Tonga had something to do with global temperature records. We didn’t even get closer In Xataka | Something weird happens in the Teide: although experts do not see signs of eruption, they insist that you have to follow it closely

Cruises will save a lot of fuel through the sun through their balconies: a new German proposal

January 26, 2025 by usatoday24

Solar balconies have proven to be effective in terms of self -consumption in countries such as Germany, Netherlands And even Spain. But what would happen if we took them to the middle of the sea? Not in the form of floating panels, but integrated into a cruise. A cruise with solar panels. An investigation has developed A simulation to check the installation of photovoltaic in the cruise cabin. The objective of the project is to feed public services and, at the same time, reduce the environmental impact. The initiative raised by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Siemens Energy Global have taken cruise data that navigated the Caribbean already along the Norwegian and Danish coasts. These routes were not randomly selected: the differences in solar radiation between tropical and northern European regions offered an ideal range to evaluate the performance of photovoltaic systems in very different climatic conditions. The design. The study has raised a system that integrates solar panels of 250 W and 22 % efficiency in the boots of the cabins. In addition, each cabin would be equipped with two panels: one integrated into the glass barrier of the balcony at an angle of 90 ° and another placed at an angle of 30 °, between the ship’s covers. The scientists themselves have explained that if a cruise of the Helios class with 1,655 shots with balcony is extrapolated, in terms of scalability the maximum photovoltaic capacity would be at 827.5 kW, which is a significant step towards a cleaner energy in high high sea. The networks. Currently, cruises are adopting continuous current (CC) networks to facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources. In each case, the researchers evaluated three integration approaches for solar panels. First, a network of 48 volts, which directly feeds the cabins, but its high cost and maintenance makes it less practical. On the other hand, the 350 volt network, which acts as a secondary distribution network, balancing security, efficiency and operational simplicity. Finally, the 700 volt network, which connects with the machine room to be a primary network, but has greater energy losses. After evaluating these options, researchers have concluded that the 350 V network combines security measures, lower cost and simplicity in maintenance for the integration of panels into the balconies. In addition, the system is complemented by iron and lithium phosphate batteries (Lifepo4), specifically designed to store energy in case of emergency, cushion demand peaks and guarantee a stable supply. The results. Scientists have performed simulations with Python taking into account more than 100 energy demand scenarios in the cabins during two cruise routes: a 15 -day tour of the Caribbean in March and an eight -day route along the coasts of Denmark and Norway during the months of August and September. With that recreation they have discovered that photovoltaic systems managed to cover 45% of the needs in the Caribbean and 47% in northern Europe. As for energy savings, it was an average of 3.2 MWh in the Caribbean and 3.8 MWh in Norway and Denmark. Finally, the environmental impact would reduce CO2 emissions between 1,500 and 1,800 kg per day, depending on the route. Other boats with solar panels. The study not only highlights the potential of solar balconies to improve the energy efficiency of cruises, but also ask questions about their scalability and future applications. However, it is not the first time that we see solar panels in ships, we have already seen progress in future candles with photovoltaic and, even, there are many millionaires who They bet on ideas more sustainable. Despite being a sector that It presents challenges For the autonomy of their batteries or the lack of load infrastructure, but this German idea in the cruises promises to open new possibilities of high seas efficiency. Image | DLR Institute of Networked Energy Systems CC BY 4.0 Xataka | The solar panels have conquered the balconies of Germany. With this invention they can also store the energy surplus

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