[pea-jay]

What is that country's electrical mix anyway? I spent a month there in 1994 and remembered one nationwide blackout that hit the country. It only lasted an hour or two though.

Wind and solar would definately make sense and given that country's volcanism, so would geothermal. Combine that with the relatively small population and moderate climate (San Jose area's elevation and wind patterns make an otherwise tropical climate temperate and bearable). Really enjoyed CR. Definately worse places to be post peak than this one. Ditto for most of Panama as well.

[pea-jay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('zensui', 't')hanks in year 2000 the electrical generation was (in GigaWatts per hour):
6.921 (total)
5.691 (hydro)
72 (fossil fuels)
976 (geothermal)
183 (wind)
I thinks this year FF is close to 200

[bodigami]

updatesince the links are in Spanish I will translate the key points: February 2007

76,65% hydro
15,34% geothermic
1,31% wind
93.31% renewables total

6,69% fossil fuels* * this % grows in the dry season

2021 is the year when is planed that 100% of electrical generation comes from renewables. There's plans and experiments for changing FF plants to biodiesels. $130 million is the cost of running this FF plants just in fuels.

The electrical demand is growing 6% this year. March 2007

ICE bought eolic generators that produce 115 GW per year This generators are in Guancaste and produce more energy in the dry season; being useful energy sources and complementary with hydro.

[pea-jay]

Since I dont read spanish or want to explore their website, what is ICE's track record w/conservation and efficiency programs and to what extent are solar electric and solar water heating utilized?

A 93% renewable portfolio is something to be commended. Few countries have gotten this close, especially a reasonably developed one like CR.

From what I remember reading in the paper, the crisis was triggered by difficulties with an oil fired generation (which was the final blow) to a grid already short some hydro power. Given the inevitable price increases in oil, I think CR will make the 100% renewable portfolio much quicker than 2020 or so. The only question is will it be via daily blackouts or increased renewable supplies and reduced demands.

Consider yourself fortunate. I think your county may make it through the coming energy crises better than many other places on the planet.

[bodigami]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pea-jay', 'S')ince I dont read spanish or want to explore their website, what is ICE's track record w/conservation and efficiency programs and to what extent are solar electric and solar water heating utilized?