Clean energy open a new vein in Guanacaste Tourism

Windmills, solar and geothermal plants, and reservoirs in radius of 50 km ²

Residents seek alternatives to tap the tourism potential

A visit to Guanacaste may be due to multiple reasons. Some do it towards the sun, white sand beaches and azure waters.

Others, enjoy its vast savannas, and green figs guanacastes giants.

And there are those who will listen to marimbas or see bullfights. But now there's a new reason to go to Guanacaste: renewables.

That province has become the cradle of power generation as friendly sources such as sunlight, wind, volcanic steam and water power.

All these developments can be found in a radius of 50 km ² between the cantons of Liberia, and Upala Bagaces (Alajuela).

Most were built by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE).

Today, the majority of visitors in these complexes are local and foreign students so populous as Guayabo (Bagaces) seeking to make maximum use of alternative tourism.

One of these plans is to install there the first national museum of renewable energy, said Jose Alfredo Jimenez, president of the Association of Local Development.

More towards the center of the province, in Liberia, is the Group Tio Pelon where organic waste such as rice husks are converted into electricity by biogas or biomass.

Here is also Ad Astra Rocket Company of Franklin Chang exastronauta, developing a plasma engine for space travel, while boosting electricity generation from the combustion of hydrogen .

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Tilarán: the magnet windmills

Famous for its winds, the canton of Tilarán Guanacaste has become a magnet for windmills for electric power generation.

Jovel Arias mayor said that wind conditions there are many investors interested in developing wind farms.

Today, in the canton are four floors plus private windfarm Tejona the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE). All are operating commercially.

For the year ahead is expected to start construction of the project Chiripa.

Is also underway Tilawind the wind farm, which already has the approved environmental impact study.

"We have three projects: one in Land Brunettes, another way to Quebrada Grande who call Mandela Mandela I and-II, which will be developed by construction H Solis. That same company will install plants and Lebanon Lebanon I II, in recent studies, "said the mayor.

He added that at this time the only impediment is that ICE refuses to make more room for this type of electricity.

"Furthermore, these projects continues to be an attraction for tourists. By going there, "the official added.

To complement these plans, the Municipality of Tilarán intend to install on its territory a zone.

According to Arias, is a Spanish-German consortium interested in settling in this county and is dedicated to developing a technology to produce energy from wind, but not towers, but with panels. "They have already been tested and want to settle in Costa Rica, and specifically in Tilarán" he said.

Source:"La Nación".

Electricity consumption rises and approaches to the historical average

Increased demand is in line with the country's economic growth

ICE holds that more consumption, but think about how to provide more energy

Most refrigerators, televisions, computers and showers in homes lit. New active industries and businesses, or a combination of both.

The truth is that the national electricity consumption rebounded this year to levels approaching historic growth averaged 5%.

According to Teofilo de la Torre, chief executive of Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), this 2012 end with a growth of between 3% and 4% compared to 2011. In recent years the demand just up between 1% and 2%, even just the previous year there was an increase of 0.69%.

In ICE chief criterion this is a positive development because it not only increases energy sales revenue of the institution, but because it reflects increased activity in the economy.

"That we did not expect revenue produced, and it is also great news for the economy. When more electricity consumption is because there is something that is moving in the economy, "he said.

But such a situation "is to scare," said De la Torre, because you have to see the availability of energy to address future demand.

At the same time, he listed a series of measures taken by ICE to meet this increased demand. Among them he cited the award of 140 megawatts to the private sector for the construction of hydroelectric power plants and wind.

In the same line, mentioned the prompt start of small energy developments of other distribution companies and cooperatives.

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ICE issued a prohibition for buy clean energy at night

This measure would have a cost about $ 20 million from 2007 to date for The Institute

Entity will review the power purchase agreements with private firms

The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) set a ban hydropower buy privately during certain hours of the night.

That provision was included in a power purchase contract to a private generator.

The consequence of such a measure is that ICE should produce thermal energy, which is more polluting and up to five times more expensive. From 2007 to date that could cost the Institute and electrical service users about $ 20.2 million.

This situation led to a presidential directive rotated two weeks ago that forces the ICE to buy the cleaner and cheaper electricity available in the market.

In this regard, President of ICE, Teofilo de la Torre said he was unaware of the clause in the contract that prevents them from acquiring private energy at certain hours of the night.

The chief said he will review the terms of this agreement to make the correction.

Also be given to the task of reviewing the other agreements to see if they include this provision.

Claudio Volio, president of the Costa Rican Association of Power Producers (Acope), explained that the hydroelectric generator is concerned that began operating in 2007 through a BOT contract. That is, a private company builds and operates hydro for some time and then transferred to ICE.

According to Volio, the clause was imposed by the Institute and has refused to remove it, despite calls from the company.

"That plant has spent five years in that at night you from working at certain times. Lose, well, in round numbers, the equivalent of two months' generation. But it is by an express provision of the ICE itself, the person would never ask them to restrict their operation, "said Volio.

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