1. Sustainable Energy Development in Costa Rica Fred Loxsom Eastern Connecticut State University, February 20, 2004

2. Trinity University is in San Antonio!

3. Like Eastern, Trinity University is a primarily undergraduate liberal arts institution, but it’s private.

4. ACS Sustainable Development Course: Summers 2002 & 2003

5. Costa Rica

6. 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.

7. The Economic Base

8. National Parks

9. Protected Beaches

10. Biodiversity

11. Deforestation

12. Forest Restoration

13. Volcanic Mountains

14. Geothermal Activity

15. Geothermal Energy

16. Wind Energy

17. Hydroelectric Power

18. 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.

19. Economic Indicators

20. Electricity Generation

21. Electricity Generation Costs

22. Potential Generation Capacity

23. Hydrocarbons

24. Geothermal

25. Hydroelectric Power

26. Wind

27. Quick Aside – Wind Power in Texas

28. Desert Sky – West Texas  Wind project  Iraan, Texas  Owner: American Electric Power  Customer: CPS  Manufacturer: GE Wind Energy (formerly Enron)

29. Desert Sky - Turbines  1.5 MW / Turbine  107 Turbines  Min. Wind: 8 mph  Max. Wind: 56 mph

30. Desert Sky - Financing  Financing Depends on State Renewable Tax Incentive Program.  AEI must guarantee to operate the system for 30 years

31. Desert Sky – Grid Issues  ERCOT (Energy Reliability Council of Texas) maintains the electric grid for most of the state.  AEI is not allowed to generate more than 100 MW

32. Desert Sky - Impacts

33. Back in Costa Rica: Is Solar Energy An Option?

34. Insolation Map

38. Insolation Average insolation ranges from 4.0 kWh/m 2 /day to 5.4 kWh/m 2 /day Assume 5.0 kWh/m 2 /day or 1,800 kWh/ m 2 /year

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

40. Why Photovoltaic?

41. Aside – Photovoltaic Power

42. Widely Used

43. Array A PV array is made up of several panels and a panel is made up of many cells.

44. System A complete system has an array, a battery, an inverter and a load. The system can supply either DC or AC loads.

45. Trinity University Science Building  Array  Controller  Battery  Load  Undergraduate students who did all the work.

46. San Antonio Public Utility Headquarters

47. Richard Smalley (Nobel Prize Winner and a recent visitor to Trinity University) advocates this approach. Space Version

48. Back in Costa Rica Solar Array Output Assume efficiency = 14% Output = 0.14 x 5.0 kWh/m 2 /day = 0.70 kWh/m 2 /day = 365 day/year x 0.70 kWh/m 2 /day = 250 kWh / m 2 / year

49. PV Economics Array cost = $5 / Watt System cost = $10 / Watt For 14% efficiency the cost per unit area = $10 / Watt * (0.14 * 1000 W/ m 2 ) = $1,400 / m 2

50. Cost of Solar Electricity Assume very simple economics – System lasts 25 years. Neglect inflation and interest. Output = 250 kWh / m 2 / year System Cost = $1400 / m 2 / 25 year = $56 / m 2 /year Electricity cost = $56 / 250 kWh = 23 cents/kWh

51. What do you think? Would photovoltaic power be practical in Costa Rica?

52. Suppose we go off grid? Lower power needs Provide storage Save expense of power lines Aesthetic value

53. Water Pumping System Inexpensive for modest needs Reliable Use water tank as energy storage ICE (Costa Rican electric utility) sponsors network of projects

54. Colder Climate Option Combine with other systems – wind, biomass Back-up generator

55. 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

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

57. Questions?