Latest news with #TacoEngelaar
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Experts sound alarm over reason behind growing productivity gap between US and Europe: 'A serious threat to economic competitiveness'
Experts sound alarm over reason behind growing productivity gap between US and Europe: 'A serious threat to economic competitiveness' A climate tech executive writing for Fortune warned of a rising disparity between Europe and the United States, contrasting a putative commuter's experience in the hot and "sticky" former environment with that of an American in "optimized" conditions. "The fundamental difference between these two realities? Air conditioning," author Taco Engelaar said. America's broadly air-conditioned landscape and Europe's relative absence of the technology have been a perpetual topic of debate on social media for years. As temperatures in the U.K. soared and triggered water restrictions, the topic was revived on platforms and in the news. As it relates to an overall warming planet, air conditioning occupies a strange space. On one hand, there are valid concerns about a corresponding increase in emissions for more widespread adoption of air-conditioned environments. However, extreme heat is a form of extreme weather, and as Engelaar noted, Europe is warming faster than any other continent. Heatwaves and record-breaking temperatures cause much of the day-to-day life to grind to a halt amid previously rare high temperatures. "This climate vulnerability isn't just inconvenient, it's a serious threat to economic competitiveness," Engelaar wrote. The issue isn't as simple as fitting homes, workplaces, and public areas with air conditioners, either, he added. Upgrades to the energy grid and broader infrastructure are needed, Engelaar observed, citing recent blackouts during a heatwave in Italy and a frustrating contradiction. "It's a deep irony that the vast quantities of solar power brought about by hotter, drier summers — which could unlock AC capabilities without creating a new carbon burden — can't be properly harnessed due to grid connection delays," he lamented. Comfort and the ability to engage in daily life are frequently the center of discussions about Europe's soaring average temperatures and air conditioning, but extreme heat is incredibly dangerous. Nearly half a million people die worldwide each year due to heat-related illness, causing over 175,000 deaths in Europe annually, underscoring the necessity of understanding climate-related issues. Do you worry about the quality of the air inside your home? Yes — often Yes — but only sometimes Only when it's bad outside No — I never do Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "In the European region, heat stress is the leading cause of climate-related death in the region," said World Health Organization Regional Director Dr. Hans Kluge. Although it's not an overnight solution, transitioning to renewable energy will go a long way in mitigating concerns about air conditioning and emissions, and increased adoption of solar energy is — as Engelaar pointed out — likely to ease a necessary or even inevitable transition. In April, the World Economic Forum reported that more than 40% of the world's electricity was generated by renewables in 2024. Ultimately, air conditioning is among the "most effective and lifesaving methods of adaptation to a changing climate," Dr. Cory Franklin wrote in a Chicago Tribune editorial advocating for increased adoption of the technology as a life-saving measure. "Human-made efforts to reduce greenhouse gases are essential, but human-made efforts to adapt to weather extremes would have lifesaving consequences more immediately," Franklin concluded. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
NDTV
29-04-2025
- Climate
- NDTV
Explained: What Caused Massive Power Outage In Portugal And Spain
An inexplicable power outage hit Spain and Portugal on Monday, knocking out traffic lights, causing congestion and disrupting airport operations and other means of transport. The countries were left reeling, and the authorities declared a state of emergency. Major cities, including Madrid, Barcelona, and Lisbon, were impacted by Monday's severe power outage, which swept through Spain, Portugal, and parts of southwest France, The Guardian reported. Millions were affected as homes, workplaces, trains, traffic signals, and the Madrid Open tennis event came to a standstill. This prompted the governments of Spain and Portugal, and the network operators, into action to resolve the issue. What happened? What caused the power outage remains a mystery, but its effects were huge: transport hubs were shut down, and governments in the two nations, with a combined population of almost 60 million, hurriedly called emergency meetings to coordinate a response. Several towns in the Iberian region, including Madrid, Lisbon, Barcelona, Seville, and Valencia -- all centres for tourism, finance, and transportation -- suffered a blackout. Portugal's grid operator Redes Energticas Nacionais (REN) said the interruption began at 11:33 am Western European summer time and power was cut off throughout the Iberian Peninsula and in some areas of France, CNN reported. Spain's electric network, Red Electricade Espana (REE), reported that "el cero"-the zero-had struck Spain and Portugal. Lighting and power outlets were cut off during the blackout, and tube systems suddenly stopped working. The streets of Madrid were jammed with traffic as the lights went out. The Spanish operator reported it began restoring voltage in the Iberian Peninsula's north, south, and west by mid-afternoon. Endesa, the country's largest utility with 10 million consumers, and Iberdrola, the second-largest energy provider in Spain, said that they were collaborating with REE in compliance with established procedures. What caused it? According to the Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, the issue began in Spain. He claimed the extensive shutdowns were prompted by a severe temperature anomaly produced by a "rare atmospheric phenomenon." "Due to the variation of the temperature, the parameters of the conductor change slightly," Taco Engelaar, general director of Neara, said. "It creates an imbalance in the frequency," Engelaar added. The REN said that "extreme temperature variations in the interior of Spain" have resulted in "anomalous oscillations in the very high voltage lines (400 kV)," known as the "induced atmospheric vibration." These oscillations led to electrical system synchronisation problems, which in turn produced "successive disturbances across the interconnected European network." Is it a cyber-attack? Antonio Costa, the President of the European Council, said: "There is no evidence that it was a cyber-attack." But he warned that the cause of such a massive power outage across Spain and Portugal was still unknown. "Grid operators in both countries are working on finding the cause, and on restoring the electricity supply," Mr Costa said on X (formerly Twitter). I am in touch with @sanchezcastejon and @LMontenegro_PT about the widespread power outages in Spain and Portugal today. Grid operators in both countries are working on finding the cause, and on restoring the electricity supply. At this point, there are no indications of any… — António Costa (@eucopresident) April 28, 2025 Teresa Ribera, the senior vice president of the European Commission, also told Spain's Radio 5 that there was no proof that the disruption was the result of an intentional act. Are international connections responsible for the power outage? According to Engelaar, international connectivity is essential for "vital for sharing clean energy," but it also opens up new avenues for failure to spread rapidly. Georg Zachmann, a senior fellow at Bruegel, believes that interconnections also serve to prevent issues from getting worse. It will be "much easier to bring the electricity system back" owing to the French interconnector. In 2003, a hydroelectric power line issue between Italy and Switzerland resulted in a massive 12-hour outage across Italy. In 2006, Portugal and Morocco experienced power outages due to a German power surge. Power begins to return in Spain and Portugal. By late Monday, the national grid operator in Spain reported that about 61 per cent of the power had been restored, Reuters reported. Late Monday, power slowly returned to several Portuguese municipalities, including the Lisbon city centre. According to grid operator REN, 85 of the 89 power substations were operational again.
