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Renewable Energy in Costa Rica

Renewable Energy in Costa Rica. Fred Loxsom November 8, 2002. Sustainable Development. Rio Declaration on Environment and Development Principle 3

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Renewable Energy in Costa Rica

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  1. Renewable Energyin Costa Rica Fred Loxsom November 8, 2002

  2. Sustainable Development Rio Declaration on Environment and Development Principle 3 The right to development must be fulfilled so as to equitably meet developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations.

  3. Sustainable Development Rio Declaration on Environment and Development Principle 9 States should cooperate to strengthen endogenous capacity-building for sustainable development by improving scientific understanding through exchanges of scientific and technological knowledge, and by enhancing the development, adaptation, diffusion and transfer of technologies, including new and innovative technologies.

  4. The Economic Base

  5. Costa Rica

  6. Natural Beaches

  7. Birdwatching

  8. Lizard Watching

  9. Volunteering

  10. Observing Natural Phenomena

  11. Being Observed as Unnatural Phenomena

  12. Studying Geothermal

  13. Studying Windpower

  14. Economic Indicators

  15. Electricity Generation

  16. Electricity Generation Costs

  17. Potential Generation Capacity

  18. Hydrocarbons • Imported. • Expensive • Negative environmental impacts

  19. Geothermal • Local resource • Inexpensive • Renewable? • Some negative environmental impacts.

  20. Compatible with Eco-tourism?

  21. Hydroelectric • Local resource • Renewable • Capital Intensive • Some negative environmental impacts.

  22. Wind • Local resource • Renewable • Unknown expense • Imported equipment • Some negative environmental impacts.

  23. Is Solar Energy An Option? • Local Resource • Renewable • Imported equipment • Cost?

  24. Insolation Map

  25. Insolation Map

  26. Insolation • Average insolation ranges from 4.0 kWh/m2/day to 5.4 kWh/m2/day • Assume 5.0 kWh/m2/day or 1,800 kWh/ m2/year

  27. Which Solar Option? • Hot Water Systems? • Process heat? • We will only consider Photovoltaic

  28. Why Photovoltaic? Converts sunlight directly into electricity. Can stand alone. Very reliable. Modular.

  29. Solar Panel Output Assume efficiency = 14% Output = 0.14 x 5.0 kWh/m2/day = 0.70 kWh/m2/day = 365 day/year x 0.70 kWh/m2/day = 255 kWh/m2/year

  30. Solar System Size Yearly Growth = 0.05 x 1500 kWh = 75 kWh Panel Area Needed = 75 kWh / 255 kWh/m2 = 0.30 m2 Array Size = 1000 W/m2 x 0.30 m2 x 0.14 = 42 W Need to add 42 Watt capacity per person –equivalent to 3 square feet.

  31. Solar Economics Array cost = $5 / Watt System cost = $10 / Watt Per capita cost = 42 Watt x $10 / Watt = $420 This represents 10% of the GDP

  32. Cost of Solar Electricity Assume very simple economics – System lasts 25 years and cost is spread evenly over 20 years. Neglect inflation and interest. Output = 75 kWh / year System Cost = $420 / 20 year = $21 / year Electricity cost = $21 / 75 kWh = 28 cents/kWh

  33. Conclusions? • Photovoltaic is expensive. • Uses imported equipment. • Environmentally benign. • Compatible with eco-tourism. • Good for remote locations with no grid. • Being installed in national parks. • Compatible with Hydrogen Economy.

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