Agreement of banks provides credit of $135,000 for solar energy project

Investment expected to generate 63.37 kilowatts peak (kWp).

July 08th,2014

BAC San José awarded, through a partial credit guarantee BCIE, $ 135,000 to fund a solar energy project in San Antonio de Belén.

The initiative was developed in the facilities of the Club Campestre Spanish and expected to generate 63.37 kilowatts peak (kWp) in duplex mode technology (combining solar thermal and photovoltaic).

According to a press release from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE), the National Power and Light Company (CNFL) participated in the initiative as a distributor and developer of interconnection.

The partial credit guarantee means that if the Spanish Club Campestre not disburse the amount due on the loan, CABEI liable for a percentage of the debt, as a backup to BAC San José.

"With the use of this financing facility of partial guarantees, sponsored by the Project on Accelerating Renewable Energy Investments in Central America and Panama (ARECA), a tripartite initiative of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Programme Development Programme (UNDP), CABEI and contributions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, is achieved that financial institutions like the Banco BAC San José SA are consolidated entities as promoters of the Costa Rican energy sector, "the statement CABEI dictates.

We attempted to contact the representative of the Spanish Club Campestre, no one answered calls.

Source:La Nación

Deputies approved credit to finance geothermal projects in Guanacaste

Agreement with the International Cooperation Agency of Japan and the European Investment Bank for $ 714 million

July 02nd,2014

Members approved the first debate last night in funding for the development of geothermal projects Pailas II, Borinquen Borinquen I and II located in the foothills of the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano in Guanacaste.

The record 19,040 was endorsed unanimously with the support of 49 legislators in its first argument. Now the project will be given by the second debate.

The credits would extend the International Cooperation Agency of Japan and the European Investment Bank, both with the guarantee, and the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), informed Congress through a press release.

The funding will allow the installation of the three projects, each with a generating capacity of 55 megawatts, at a cost of $ 958 million.

Of the total project cost, $ 644 million would come from the Japanese agency, $ 70 million from the European Bank, and $ 244 of the ICE.

With Pailas II, Borinquen Borinquen I and II is to meet the energy demand in the country next year.

Otton Solis, government deputy, said the loan is an excellent negotiation of the previous government.

"Excellent negotiation in terms of the destination of the funds, in terms of financial conditions," Solis said.

The deputy of the Broad Front, Ronald Vargas Araya, also emphasized that the terms were negotiated financings.

"It's one of the best ways to produce energy," he said Vargas, who added that credit conditions are unbeatable.

Source: La Nación

Bill Clinton appeals Costa Rica to take more advantage of solar energy

Claims that Costa Rica can use roofs and geothermal to produce electricity

He participated in celebration of the anniversary of the 'Universidad Latina'

July 02nd, 2014

Throaty screaming the goals of the World newcomer Colombia, the former U.S. President, Bill Clinton, yesterday supported the initiative to use solar panels on the roofs of houses and factories in Costa Rica to generate electricity.

"The roofs here are flat; may place solar panels to produce energy and sell what about, "said exgobernante (1993-2001) to 450 people gathered to hear him in the auditorium of the Universidad Latina in Montes de Oca.

Clinton praised the solar plan the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE). He argued that this is a good alternative to high electricity prices, an issue that has stirred public debate in the country.

In 2010, ICE launched a pilot program for customers who wish to generate their own electricity through renewable energy, including solar. In the middle of this year, the institution revealed that the results exceeded expectations.

Nearly 170 projects and other 230 line up, most solar panels were developed. In addition, he had to climb 5 to 10 megawatts of installed capacity target by consumers.

"You are the greenest country in the world. Can make people use clean energy, either from geothermal sources (steam content in the soil), but I understand that many are in national parks or take advantage ceilings "continued Bill Clinton.

With pleasant tone, 42nd President of the United States was the leading figure of the 25th anniversary of the American University, part of Laureate Universities. That organization, which brings together 75 universities in the world, has Clinton as its honorary chancellor.

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Solar Panels conquer most Costa Ricans ceilings

In two years, ICE plan went from 22 to 117 facilities and there are 200 pending

Technology reduces electricity bills in homes and releases of future increases

June 01st, 2014

The decline in rainfall for hydroelectric generation has to Costa Ricans looking at the sky and pocket. Less water will make more heat energy is generated by burning diesel and bunker; which impact the cost of electricity.

However, a growing minority of users are worried less humidity. To them the sun gives them almost free electricity by using solar panels on their roofs.

"Look, two years ago our intake was such that we came receipts above ¢ 100,000. As we are now interconnected to ICE, paid ¢ 2,700 per month, the minimum" celebrates Rosibel Solano, a biologist and teacher Citadel White in San Isidro Perez Zeledon.

In July 2013, she and her husband, Mark Salazar López, 12 equivalents panels installed three kilowatts (kW) of installed capacity.

Spent nearly 5 million of colones in the team today on eaves of his house and ran because they did better conditions for investment.

Meanwhile, for the bulk of users of electricity, the threat of rate increases is the order of the day.

This 2014, the Arenal dam, largest hydroelectric plant in Costa Rica, started with one of lower bookings in the last seven years water . The cost of electricity bills and even forced some industries to explore destinations outside the country to spend part of their processes in pursuit of savings and competitiveness.

Pilot Plan. Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) now allows customers own generation plants to your network can be interconnected as part of a pilot program created in 2010.

A year later, there were 22 registered customers and the end of 2013 it amounted to 117. Earlier this year, the company processed more than 200 applications.

The growing interest in accessing this program resopnde three benefits from the installation of solar panels listed users and experts consulted.

First, the monthly bill falls as the system provides more energy than taken from the network.

Second, as the panel generates throughout the day, while there is sunlight, when consumption in the home is low, the surplus goes to the ICE network.

The Institute recognizes the contributions and results in energy credits for households taxpayers. This allows these families to continue paying the minimum amount in winter when low production of the panels.

Finally, the solar system allowing the user to get rid of rate increases caused by progressive thermal generation.

"If you have the money, do it. Reasons for this abound. If 80,000 people put a three-kilowatt system, which would not generate this fuel, "says Hugo Ruiz Villalobos, electrical engineer who installed three kW at his home in San Francisco de Heredia.

Read more: 'La Nación'