Sustainable Energy Developmentin Costa Rica

Fred Loxsom Eastern Connecticut State University, February 20, 2004

Trinity Universityis in San Antonio!

Like Eastern, Trinity University is a primarily undergraduate liberal arts

institution, but it’s private.

ACS Sustainable Development Course: Summers 2002 & 2003

Costa Rica

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.

The Economic Base

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

National Parks

Protected Beaches

Biodiversity

Deforestation

Forest Restoration

Volcanic Mountains

Geothermal Activity

Geothermal Energy

Wind Energy

Hydroelectric Power

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.

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

Geothermal

Hydroelectric Power

Wind

Quick Aside – Wind Power in Quick Aside – Wind Power in TexasTexas

Desert Sky – West TexasDesert Sky – West Texas

Wind project Wind project Iraan, TexasIraan, Texas Owner: American Owner: American

Electric PowerElectric Power Customer: CPSCustomer: CPS Manufacturer: GE Manufacturer: GE

Wind Energy Wind Energy (formerly Enron)(formerly Enron)

Desert Sky - TurbinesDesert Sky - Turbines

1.5 MW / Turbine 1.5 MW / Turbine 107 Turbines107 Turbines Min. Wind: 8 mphMin. Wind: 8 mph Max. Wind: 56 mphMax. Wind: 56 mph

Desert Sky - FinancingDesert Sky - Financing

Financing Depends Financing Depends on State Renewable on State Renewable Tax Incentive Tax Incentive Program.Program.

AEI must guarantee AEI must guarantee to operate the system to operate the system for 30 yearsfor 30 years

Desert Sky – Grid Desert Sky – Grid IssuesIssues

ERCOT (Energy ERCOT (Energy Reliability Council of Reliability Council of Texas) maintains the Texas) maintains the electric grid for most electric grid for most of the state.of the state.

AEI is not allowed to AEI is not allowed to generate more than generate more than 100 MW100 MW

Desert Sky - Desert Sky - ImpactsImpacts

Back in Costa Rica:Is Solar Energy An

Option?

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?

Aside – Photovoltaic PowerAside – Photovoltaic Power

Widely UsedWidely Used

ArrayArray

A PV A PV arrayarray is made is made up of several up of several panelspanels and a and a panel is made up panel is made up of many of many cellscells..

SystemSystem

A complete system has A complete system has an an arrayarray, a , a batterybattery, an , an inverterinverter and a and a loadload..

The system can supply The system can supply either DC or AC either DC or AC loads.loads.

Trinity University Science BuildingTrinity University Science Building

ArrayArray ControllerController BatteryBattery LoadLoad

Undergraduate Undergraduate students who did all students who did all the work.the work.

San Antonio Public Utility San Antonio Public Utility HeadquartersHeadquarters

Richard Smalley Richard Smalley

(Nobel Prize Winner (Nobel Prize Winner and a recent visitor to and a recent visitor to Trinity University) Trinity University) advocates this advocates this approach. approach.

Space VersionSpace Version

Back in Costa RicaSolar Array 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 = 250 kWh / m2 / year

PV Economics

Array cost = $5 / WattSystem cost = $10 / WattFor 14% efficiency the cost per unit area =$10 / Watt * (0.14 * 1000 W/ m2 ) = $1,400 / m2

Cost of Solar Electricity

Assume very simple economics – System lasts 25 years. Neglect inflation and interest.

Output = 250 kWh / m2 / year System Cost = $1400 / m2 / 25 year = $56 / m2 /year Electricity cost = $56 / 250 kWh = 23 cents/kWh

What do you think?

Would photovoltaic power be practical in Costa Rica?

Suppose we go off grid?

Lower power needs

Provide storage Save expense of

power lines Aesthetic value

Water Pumping System

Inexpensive for modest needs

Reliable Use water tank as

energy storage ICE (Costa Rican

electric utility) sponsors network of projects

Colder Climate Option

Combine with other systems – wind, biomass

Back-up generator

Photovoltaics are part of the mix of energy options for sustainable societies Other renewable

options include Conservation Passive solar Active solar Wind Hydroelectric Geothermal Fuel cell technologies Hybrid electric vehicles

Knowledge Transfer

We can learn from Costa Rica and other Less Developed Countries as we shift away from our dependence on fossil fuels.

Questions?