Makin’ Renewables Happen in Costa Rica
Getting rid of fossil fuels in the generation of Costa Rica’s electricity won’t be too tough. Loads aren’t huge, but renewable resources are. But what about transportation, where demand is significant (currently 1.4 million cars and trucks), and it’s growing too?
Well, per this cool little video, the current president has pledged to ban the last molecule of fossil fuels by 2021. Carlos Alvarado Quesada, newly elected, has made this his number one agenda item. Look for lots of electric vehicles of one form or another (maybe add a horse or two), and probably about a 15% increase in grid load.
“Hey!” you might interject. Why only 15%, when the total percentage of transportation to total energy consumption is more like 40%? It’s because of the huge gains in efficiency, replacing an internal combustion engine, where about 80% of the chemical energy in the fuel winds up as waste heat.
Costa Rica: a small country with a big vision.
Craig,
You persist with a romantic vision of Costa Rica.
Although in many ways an admirable little nation, President Quesada might be more productive is he concentrated on electrifying 48% of his nations households who currently burn wood of kerosene !
More importantly, President Quesada might consider the condition of his nations roads outside the capital (or the side walks in the capital) and how the average Costa Rican will afford to buy an EV.
Costa Rica’s national debt is barely manageable, and while the large number of US ex-pats helps the economy of this small nations, the presence does lead to social tensions between the affluent and less affluent.
Now about those “electric Vehicles”. the President was being very optimistic ! Like you, when he said, “Electric”, he really meant “Hybrid”.
The Buses will be built by Daewoo of South Korea, and financed by aid money. The Daewoo diesel-electric uses a similar system as was pioneered by the Toyota subsidiary Hino and works extremely well, but still relies on diesel for “heavy lifting”.
The President ambitions are a little odd considering he, like most Costa Ricans favour Large four wheel drive SUV’s and 4WD and pick up truck for personal transport.
Like you, I wish the President well in his aspirations, but honestly Craig, don’t you think you should do just a tad more research than repeating stuff posted on Facebook?