Renewable Energy Sector fears loss of 1,000 jobs

In 2014 the solar industry generated more than 600 jobs, according Acesolar.

February 19th,2015

The renewable energy industry fears losing 1,000 jobs after the closure of the pilot of the ICE, which injected into the distribution network 10 megawatts (MW) of solar energy.

The pilot was promoted by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) to assess the impact of this source in the network of the National Electricity System (SEN) and started in October 2010 with 5 MW and two-year term. Just in 2012 began to get interested, and after studying the results, the Institute expanded the plan for three years and increased power up to 10 MW.

Last year, only the solar industry generated more than 600 jobs. If this other renewable technologies (biomass, biogas, mini hydro and mini wind) are added, distributed generation creates more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs, said Harold Steinvorth, director of the Solar Energy Association of Costa Rica (Acesolar) .

Before alerts energy sector Javier Orozco, head of Process System Expansion ICE, said the cease-pilot does not imply that those who participated be removed from the system, because these 366 customers signed a connection with the Institute for 15 years.

Distributed generation is a system that allows small-scale power generators produce for their own consumption and also to market the surplus in the SEN.

For entrepreneurs like Alejandro Brenes, general manager of Enertiva, immediate solution to avoid the crisis in the sector is in the hands of ICE. This is because although the Regulation of Planning, Operation and System Access National Energy (POASEN) is in force since April 2014, is not yet sufficiently refined to define a north on distributed generation.

"The alternative is that the Institute will extend the term of the pilot until the legislation is implemented POASEN by the ARESEP" Brenes said.

However, Luis Pacheco, manager of the ICE, told The Nation that the plan ceased on February 6. In those circumstances, the future of distributed generation now be left to the Regulatory Authority for Public Services (Aresep), by POASEN.

"The pilot was defined objectives and goals aimed at investigating the impact of this generation in distribution networks, both as operating costs. It also was seen as an opportunity to assess market behavior associated with this technology. Fulfilled the timeframe of the project, we are in the process of evaluation and results of it, "Pacheco said.

Editor's Note: This information was updated at 3:00 pm

Source:'La Nación'