| Title | Costa Rica Country Update |
|---|---|
| Authors | Eddy SANCHEZ - RIVERA, Leonardo SOLIS - SALGUERO, Hartman GUIDO - SEQUEIRA, Osvaldo VALLEJOS - RUIZ |
| Year | 2020 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | investment, challenge, sustainability, expansion |
| Abstract | Since the last Costa Rica's country update report presented in 2015, geothermal development and exploration in the country for electrical generation purposes have seen a notorious increase. During the last years, geothermal exploration and development in Costa Rica for electrical generation purposes have had an important impulse. Since the country's energetic policies are mainly based on renewable type energy sources in order to decrease the CO2 emissions, and face the climate change effects, geothermal energy continues to be a base load for the electrical system in Costa Rica and up to date is producing around 16,00% of the total electrical generation of the country. The Dr. Alfredo Mainieri Protti Geothermal Field (formerly The Miravalles Geothermal Field, 154.5 MWe) continued its productivity rate in stable conditions and the first unit of Pailas Geothermal Field (42.5 MWe) completed eight years producing continuously since year 2011. The second unit in Pailas of 55 MWe saw its commissioning in July 2019. A drilling program of 20 wells for the development of Borinquen I (first of two 55 MWe units) is taking place. Considering the important investment for geothermal development, the main challenge has been the sustainability of the reservoir, not only during the initial planned exploitation period but also for any possible future expansion, continuous strategies are being developed in order to secure the commercial exploitation of the Alfredo Mainieri Protti through repowering of the geothermal field by extending the useful life of the reservoir. Finally, a portfolio of geothermal projects was designed comprising areas around the country to fulfill the electricity expansion requirements until 2040. |