Renewable Energyin Costa Rica

Fred Loxsom November 8, 2002

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.

Sustainable Development

Rio Declaration on Environment and DevelopmentPrinciple 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.

The Economic Base

Economic Sector % GDP Agriculture 13 Industry 22 Commerce and Tourism 40

Costa Rica

Natural Beaches

Birdwatching

Lizard Watching

Volunteering

Observing Natural Phenomena

Being Observed as Unnatural Phenomena

Studying Geothermal

Studying Windpower

Economic Indicators

United States Costa Rica Population 280 million 3.8 million

Growth Rate 0.80% 1.60%

GDP (per capita) $36,300 $3,850

Gini Index 0.41 0.46

Oil (per capita) 26 bbl/year 3.7 bbl/year

Auto (per capita) 44% 34%

Imported Oil 55% 100%

Electricty (per capita) 13,000 kWh 1,500 kWh

Electricity Generation

United States Costa Rica Electricty (per capita) 13,000 kWh 1,500 kWh Demand Growth 2% 5% Fossil Fuel 71% 1% Nuclear 20% 0% Hydroelectric 7% 83% Geothermal 1% 14% Wind 1% 2%

Electricity Generation Costs

Electricity Generation Cost (¢/kWh)

Oil 1% 26 Geothermal 14% 3.5 Hydroelectric 82% 2.2 Wind 3% ?

Potential Generation Capacity

Installed Capacity

(MW)

Potential Capacity

(MW) Oil 240 0? Geothermal 140 900 Hydroelectric 1200 10,000 Wind 46 >600

Hydrocarbons

Imported. Expensive Negative environmental impacts

Geothermal

Local resource Inexpensive Renewable? Some negative environmental impacts.

Compatible with Eco-tourism?

Hydroelectric

Local resource Renewable Capital Intensive Some negative environmental impacts.

Wind

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

Is Solar Energy An Option?

Local Resource Renewable Imported equipment Cost?

Insolation Map

Insolation Map

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

Which Solar Option?

Hot Water Systems? Process heat? We will only consider Photovoltaic

Why Photovoltaic?

Converts sunlight directly into electricity.Can stand alone.Very reliable.Modular.

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

Solar System Size

Yearly Growth = 0.05 x 1500 kWh = 75 kWhPanel 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.

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

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 / yearSystem Cost = $420 / 20 year = $21 / yearElectricity cost = $21 / 75 kWh = 28 cents/kWh

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.