Energías renovables en Costa Rica

1. Quelles sont les énergies renouvelables les plus utilisées au Costa Rica?

• C'est un pays avec des ressources naturelles importantes pour la production d'énergie éolienne et solaire.

• De par ses caractéristiques, il offre la possibilité de développer des projets autour du solaire, de l'éolien, de la biomasse, de la géothermie et de l'énergie marémotrice.

• Les énergies renouvelables les plus utilisées sont l'éolien, qui correspond à 6,8%. Viennent ensuite l'énergie solaire photovoltaïque avec 11,2%, la mini-hydraulique avec 8,2%, le solaire thermoélectrique avec 7,1% et la biomasse avec 6,7%.

• L'énergie hydroélectrique reste la principale source de la matrice électrique, avec une part de 71,95%. Le second est géothermique, avec 14,90%, suivi de l'éolien avec 12,39%. En revanche, la biomasse et le soleil contribuent à 0,54%.

2. Why is hydroelectric energy so widely used in Costa Rica?

• Hydropower represents the first source of renewable electricity and covers about 10% of the electricity consumed. In addition, hydroelectric energy has around 2,500 plants with powers between 30kW and 10MW.

• In Costa Rica, hydroelectric production is the main source of energy, because it is a form of renewable production, the use of water doesn’t represent any cost for the country and also doesn’t produce pollution in the environment.

• This type of hydropower is an important part, as it economically stores energy and moderates fluctuations from more intermittent renewable sources.

• Hydroelectric energy is used by Costa Rica because it generates waste and pollutes the rivers where they are located.

3. Quel pourcentage la géothermie représente-t-elle dans l'approvisionnement total en électricité au Costa Rica?

• 13.2%

• 13.3%

• 14.4%

• 15.5%

The problem with hydropower is that it is too dependent on the weather. If it doesn’t rain enough, the water shortage creates a problem.

• True: Because not every day in Costa Rica there is enough rain to generate energy. Since the seasons are divided into Dry Season and Rainy Season, during the Dry Season it is more difficult for there to be more precipitation.

• False: Because every day in Costa Rica there is enough precipitation to generate electricity. That means that every day it rains and that helps hydroelectric plants to generate energy.

In 1996, Costa Rica was the first nation in Latin America to use the wind to generate electricity and added that since then, it has remained along with Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Uruguay in the group of leaders in wind installed capacity and participation of this resource in its electrical matrix.

• True: The wind power plant produces around 20 MW in the moments of greatest wind, which are the hours of noon when electrical energy is most needed.

• False: Costa Rica doesn’t use wind energy since it is very expensive for the country and there is not enough wind to generate energy.

6. Où l'énergie solaire est-elle concentrée au Costa Rica?

• Il est situé dans les montagnes.

• Il est situé dans l'océan.

• Il est concentré dans la péninsule d'Osa, Isla Caballo et dans certains points de contrôle de la région de Guanacaste.

• Il n'y a pas d'énergie solaire au Costa Rica.

7. What position does Costa Rica occupy in the contribution percentage of wind to its electricity matrix around the world?

• 9th

• 10th

• 11th

• 12th

8. Why in Costa Rica are Solar Panels used in rural areas?

• Solar panels are used in rural areas because they are cheaper.

• These panels have been installed mainly in indigenous settlements where it is difficult to carry the conventional wiring system.

• Because there is no space in the city for solar panels since they are very large.

• Because they think that rural areas are better.

9. What motivates the authorities of Costa Rica to start studying the possibility of using other energy sources like geothermal energy?

• They implanted geothermal plants because it is a reliable source of renewable energy.

• They thought it was a good idea because this way they could create more jobs and improve public health.

• They realized how bad the contamination was after WW2 thanks to nuclear energy and decided to install geothermal energy plants and other renewable energy sources.

• The continuous rise in oil prices, especially during the 1973 crisis that left Costa Rica in a serious economic crisis. The price of a barrel of oil increased from $ 2.90 to $ 11.90.

10. Pourquoi le Costa Rica a-t-il choisi d'utiliser des énergies renouvelables?

• Le Costa Rica voulait aider les habitats des animaux.

• Parce que le Costa Rica voulait utiliser les énergies renouvelables pour gagner plus d'argent.

• Costa Rica a encouragé l’utilisation des énergies renouvelables depuis le milieu du siècle dernier pour préserver l’environnement et se libérer de sa dépendance vis-à-vis des pays producteurs de pétrole.

• Le Costa Rica n’utilise pas d’énergie renouvelable.