每日英语听力外刊精读20231119:地中海能成为欧洲的能源发电站吗?


文本选自:The Economist(经济学人)
作者:Unknown
原文标题:Can the Mediterranean become Europe’s energy powerhouse?
原文发布时间:15 Nov. 2023
Can the Mediterranean become Europe's energy powerhouse?
Tourists on mallorca might now marvel at a new attraction on the Mediterranean island: a miniature economy entirely energised by "green" hydrogen. At its heart, two solar plants power an "electrolyser", which splits water into oxygen and hydrogen, creating carbon-free fuel. The hydrogen can propel buses, be injected into the island's gas grid and power fuel cells at hotels and the port. "The project shows what is possible, " says Belén Linares, head of innovation at Acciona Energía, a renewable-energy firm that is one of the project's investors.
There is one snag: the hydrogen has yet to materialise. Because of a design flaw, the electrolyser, which is made by Cummins, an American firm, has been recalled. Importing green hydrogen, which is derived from renewable sources, is impractical. Buses and fuel cells stand unused. A newly elected local government also appears less interested. The previous administration talked "a lot of hot air", according to a quote in the local press by the new mayor of Palma, the island's capital.
Boundless possibilities, or hot air? The same question also hangs over a wider green-hydrogen economy, which European governments hope to see emerge in the Mediterranean basin, turning the region into a sun-fuelled counterpart to a wind-driven northern dynamo already taking shape around the North Sea. The prize is large. If plans for Europe's southern powerhouse go well it will give the continent access to plenty of cheap renewable energy and allow it to clean up its carbon-spewing heavy industry.
地中海能成为欧洲的能源发电站吗?

精听党背景导读
从罗马时代的人力资源到今日的天然气,地中海一直是能源交流的关键通道。如今,随着太阳能和风能的兴起,这一地区又站在了新的能源革命前沿。在地中海的碧波之中,马略卡岛的一项创新项目正揭开可再生能源新篇章:一个以绿色氢能为核心的微型经济体。这个项目不仅是技术创新的象征,更是对未来能源转型的一次大胆尝试。
文本选自:The Economist(经济学人)作者:Unknown原文标题:Can the Mediterranean become Europe’s energy powerhouse?原文发布时间:15 Nov. 2023关键词:地中海 能源 氢
精听党带着问题听
1. 找出文中关于“能源发电站”的同义词?2. 如何理解第二段中的“hot air”?3. 段二中使用“snag”的巧妙之处在于?
精听党选段赏析
标题解读
Can the Mediterranean become Europe's energy powerhouse?
地中海能成为欧洲的能源发电站吗?
Mediterranean adj. 地中海的;1. a Mediterranean country 地中海国家;2. a Mediterranean climate 地中海气候;
energy powerhouse 能源发电站;1. powerhouse n. 发电站;动力源;
段一
Tourists on Mallorca might now marvel at a new attraction on the Mediterranean island: a miniature economy entirely energised by "green" hydrogen. At its heart, two solar plants power an "electrolyser", which splits water into oxygen and hydrogen, creating carbon-free fuel. The hydrogen can propel buses, be injected into the island's gas grid and power fuel cells at hotels and the port. "The project shows what is possible," says Belén Linares, head of innovation at Acciona Energía, a renewable-energy firm that is one of the project's investors.
Mallorca n. 马略卡岛;
marvel vt. 感到惊奇;大为赞叹;
attraction n. 有吸引力的事物;1. The Eiffel Tower is a major attraction for tourists in Paris. 埃菲尔铁塔是巴黎吸引游客的主要景点。2. attractive adj. 吸引人的;
You are very attractive to me. 你对我有吸引力。
miniature adj. 很小的;微型的;小型的;1. miniature economy 小型经济体;2. n. 缩影;微型;
energise vt. 为…提供电力(或能量);使通电;1. The new battery technology will energise the future of electric vehicles. 新的电池技术将为电动汽车的未来注入活力。
hydrogen n. 氢,氢气;1. Hydrogen is being explored as a clean alternative to fossil fuels. 人们正在探索氢作为化石燃料的清洁替代品。
solar plant 太阳能发电厂;1. plant n. 发电厂;工厂;2. The new solar plant will significantly contribute to the region's renewable energy supply. 新的太阳能发电厂将显著提高该地区的可再生能源供应。
power vt. 提供动力;1. Wind turbines power thousands of homes with renewable energy. 风力涡轮机为成千上万的家庭提供可再生能源。
electrolyser n. 电解槽;1. The electrolyser is essential in the process of producing hydrogen fuel. 在生产氢燃料的过程中,电解槽是必不可少的。
split…into… 把…分成…;
propel vt. 推动;驱动;推进;
inject vt.(给…)添加,增加;注入;1. The government plans to inject more funds into the healthcare system. 政府计划向医疗体系注入更多资金。
fuel cell 燃料电池;
innovation n. 革新,创新;
renewable-energy n. 可再生能源;
参考译文
马略卡岛上的游客现在可能会惊叹于这个地中海岛屿上的一个新景点:一个完全由“绿色”氢气驱动的微型经济体。在它的中心,两个太阳能发电厂为一个“电解器”提供动力,电解器将水分解成氧气和氢气,产生无碳燃料。氢气可以推动公共汽车,注入岛上的天然气网络,并为酒店和港口的燃料电池提供动力。可再生能源公司Acciona Energía是该项目的投资者之一,该公司的创新主管贝伦·利纳雷斯(Belén Linares)说:“该项目展示了什么是可能的。”
段二
There is one snag: the hydrogen has yet to materialise. Because of a design flaw, the electrolyser, which is made by Cummins, an American firm, has been recalled. Importing green hydrogen, which is derived from renewable sources, is impractical. Buses and fuel cells stand unused. A newly elected local government also appears less interested. The previous administration talked "a lot of hot air", according to a quote in the local press by the new mayor of Palma, the island's capital.
snag n. 问题,困难,障碍,麻烦;1. We encountered a major snag in the project when the funding was unexpectedly cut. 当资金被意外地削减时,我们在项目中遇到了重大障碍。
materialise vi. 物质化;具体化;实现;发生;成为现实;
flaw n. 缺点,缺陷;裂痕,瑕疵;1. Despite its few flaws, the painting was a masterpiece. 尽管有一些瑕疵,这幅画还是一幅杰作。
recall vt. 召回;1. The company had to recall thousands of toys due to safety concerns. 出于安全考虑,该公司不得不召回数千件玩具。
import vt. 进口;
be derived from 源自于;1. I derive great pleasure from teaching English. 教英语给我带来很大的乐趣。
impractical adj. 不明智的;不现实的;1. While the idea is creative, it is impractical for our current budget. 虽然这个想法很有创意,但对我们目前的预算来说是不切实际的。
stand vi. 处于(某种状态或情形);
unused adj. 没用着的;闲着的;未用过的;1. The unused equipment was finally donated to a local school. 闲置的设备最后被捐赠给了当地的一所学校。
newly adv. 最近;重新;
elected adj. 当选的;1. The newly elected mayor promised to tackle the housing crisis. 新当选的市长承诺解决住房危机。
local press 当地媒体;地方报刊;1. press n. 报章杂志;报刊;印刷媒体;2. The local press covered the story of the community's efforts to rebuild after the storm. 当地媒体报道了社区在风暴后重建努力的故事。
mayor n. (英格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰由议员选举产生的)镇长,市长;(美国、加拿大等国家公众选举的)市长;
参考译文
有一个障碍:氢气还没有出现。由于设计缺陷,美国康明斯公司生产的电解器已被召回。进口来自可再生能源的绿色氢气是不切实际的。公共汽车和燃料电池闲置着。新当选的地方政府似乎也不太感兴趣。根据岛上首府帕尔马的新市长在当地媒体上的一段话,前任政府说了“很多空话”。
段三
Boundless possibilities, or hot air? The same question also hangs over a wider green-hydrogen economy, which European governments hope to see emerge in the Mediterranean basin, turning the region into a sun-fuelled counterpart to a wind-driven northern dynamo already taking shape around the North Sea. The prize is large. If plans for Europe's southern powerhouse go well it will give the continent access to cheap renewable energy and allow it to clean up its carbon-spewing heavy industry.
boundless adj. 无限的;无边无际的;1. The boundless universe continues to amaze us with its endless mysteries and possibilities. 浩瀚的宇宙不断以其无尽的奥秘和可能性给我们带来惊喜。
hang over 笼罩;
emerge in 出现;1. New technological innovations continue to emerge in the rapidly evolving digital world. 在快速发展的数字世界中,新的技术创新不断涌现。
basin n. 盆地,海盆;内港,内湾;
sun-fuelled adj. 太阳能驱动的;
counterpart n. 对应的人(或事物);
wind-driven adj. 风驱动的;
dynamo n. 发电机;1. The new hydroelectric dynamo significantly boosted the town's power supply. 新的水力发电机大大增加了该镇的电力供应。2. n. 精力充沛的人;
Despite her busy schedule, Maria was always a dynamo, infusing energy and enthusiasm into every project she undertook. 尽管日程紧张,玛丽亚始终是一个精力旺盛的人,她对每一个参与的项目都充满活力和热情。
take shape 形成;成形;初具规模;1. As the plans were discussed, the new project began to take shape. 随着计划的讨论,新项目开始初具规模。
go well 进展顺利;1. Thankfully, the construction of the new school is going well and is on schedule. 值得庆幸的是,新学校的建设进展顺利,且按计划进行。
carbon-spewing adj. 碳排放的;
heavy industry 重工业;
参考译文
无限可能,还是空谈?同样的问题也笼罩着更广泛的绿色氢能经济体,欧洲各国政府希望在地中海盆地看到这种经济体的出现,将该地区变成一个太阳能驱动的地区,与已经在北海周围形成的风力驱动的北部发电机相对应。这样的好处很大。如果欧洲南部发电站的计划进展顺利,它将使欧洲大陆获得廉价的可再生能源,并使其能够清理其碳排放的重工业。
精听党每日单词
Mediterranean
 /ˌmedɪtəˈreɪniən/ adj. 地中海的;
energy powerhouse
 能源发电站;
Mallorca
 /məˈjɔːrkə/ n. 马略卡岛;
marvel
 /ˈmɑːrv(ə)l/ vt. 感到惊奇;大为赞叹;
attraction
 /əˈtrækʃ(ə)n/ n. 有吸引力的事物;
miniature
 /ˈmɪnətʃər/ adj. 很小的;微型的;小型的;
energise
 /enədʒaiz/ vt. 为…提供电力(或能量);使通电;
hydrogen
 /ˈhaɪdrədʒən/ n. 氢,氢气;
solar plant
 太阳能发电厂;
power
 /ˈpaʊər/ vt. 提供动力;
electrolyser
 /i'lektrəlaizə/ n. 电解槽;
split…into…
 把…分成…;
propel
 /prəˈpel/ vt. 推动;驱动;推进;
inject
 /ɪnˈdʒekt/ vt.(给…)添加,增加;注入;
fuel cell
 燃料电池;
innovation
 /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 革新,创新;
renewable-energy
 /rɪˈnjuːəbl ˈenərdʒi/ n. 可再生能源;
snag
 /snæɡ/ n. 问题,困难,障碍,麻烦;
materialise
 /mə'tiəriəlaiz/ vi. 物质化;具体化;实现;发生;成为现实;
flaw
 /flɔː/ n. 缺点,缺陷;裂痕,瑕疵;
recall
 /rɪˈkɔːl/ vt. 召回;
import
 /ˈɪmpɔːrt/ vt. 进口;
be derived from
 源自于;
impractical
 /ɪmˈpræktɪk(ə)l/ adj. 不明智的;不现实的;
stand
 /stænd/ vi. 处于(某种状态或情形);
unused
 /ˌʌnˈjuːzd/ adj. 没用着的;闲着的;未用过的;
newly
 /ˈnuːli/ adv. 最近;重新;
elected
 /ɪˈlektɪd/ adj. 当选的;
local press
 当地媒体;地方报刊;
mayor
 /ˈmeɪər/ n. (英格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰由议员选举产生的)镇长,市长;(美国、加拿大等国家公众选举的)市长;
boundless
 /ˈbaʊndləs/ adj. 无限的;无边无际的;
hang over
 笼罩;
emerge in
 出现;
basin
 /ˈbeɪs(ə)n/ n. 盆地,海盆;内港,内湾;
sun-fuelled
 /sʌn ˈfjuːəld/ adj. 太阳能驱动的;
counterpart
 /ˈkaʊntərpɑːrt/ n. 对应的人(或事物);
wind-driven
 /wɪnd ˈdrɪvn/ adj. 风驱动的;
dynamo
 /ˈdaɪnəmoʊ/ n. 发电机;
take shape
 形成;成形;初具规模;
go well
 进展顺利;
carbon-spewing
 /ˈkɑːrbən spjuː/ adj. 碳排放的;
heavy industry
 重工业;
精听党文化拓展
目前氢气来源主要有三种方式:一是“灰氢”,化石燃料(例如石油、天然气、煤炭等)经过化学反应产生的氢气,在生产过程中会有二氧化碳等污染物排放,但也占据了主要市场。二是“蓝氢”,即生产“灰氢”的同时,使用碳捕捉、利用与储存(CCS)等先进技术捕获温室气体。三是“绿氢”,利用可再生能源发电进行电解水制氢,从源头上实现了二氧化碳零排放。
绿电制成绿氢,绿氢在制氢、用氢环节也可以更好地与电耦合,助力打造新型电力系统。绿氢与绿电可以说是相互成就。
绿氢应用场景并不限于电力行业。石化、化工行业是目前氢气利用的最主要领域,95%以上的氢仍作为原料用于炼化行业加氢精炼以及化工行业合成高端化学品,每吨绿氢来代替灰氢可减少约27吨二氧化碳排放。大力发展绿氢耦合现代煤化工,推动以氢换煤、绿氢消碳,那么必定会给化工行业的环保和低碳生产助一臂之力,更有助于实现化工行业的碳中和。
绿氢还在交通、冶金、建筑等重点碳排放领域发挥作用,例如,氢燃料电池可用于长途运输车辆和重载货车、在钢铁行业中代替焦炭作为还原剂等。
精听党每日美句
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful." – Albert Schweitzer
“成功不是通往幸福的钥匙。幸福才是通往成功的钥匙。如果你热爱你正在做的事,你就会成功。” – 阿尔伯特·施韦策
到顶部