Costa Rica's President, Laura Chinchilla Miranda, participated in the recent inauguration of the Los Santos wind farm, located in Casa Mata village developed by the Cooperative Coopesantos R.L.
With an investment of $36 million, this project will produce 42 000 MWh per year and will supply part of the electricity demand of more than 33 000 cooperative members and users, belonging to 120 communities to which Coopesantos RL provides power.
The President stressed the importance of such projects, which contribute to developing a new energy supply based on renewable sources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Coopesantos General Manager said during the opening ceremony that the key to success of Los Santos has been the sense of cooperation and in solidarity which brings electricity to the smallest and most remote villages. To carry out this work, the cooperative received funds from the Banco Internacional de Costa Rica (BICSA-PANAMA).
Costa Rica produces 78% of its energy from hydro power, while 12% is produced using geothermal power, 4% wind power and 1% through bagasse, while only 5% is produced by fossil fuel use, according to the state electricity insutitute (Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad, ICE).
50 MW awarded to Acciona
This contribution by wind power is rising, as evidenced by the recent announcement that Acciona Energy has won a tender called by the ICE for the purchase of electricity from a 50 MW wind park in Costa Rica. Acciona will design, construct and operate the Chiripa wind park following an investment of $125 million.
Acciona presented its bid together with the local company Grupo Ecoenergía, which holds a 35% stake in the development company; Acciona holds the remaining 65%. The wind farm is planned for the municipality of Tilarán (Guanacaste province) in north-western Costa Rica, and will consist of 33 wind turbines of 1.5 MW each.
The award involves the signing of a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement and the materialization of the wind farm through the BOT (build, operate and transfer) formula. Under the agreement, the developer will design, build and operate the wind park for the 20 years of its duration. Once this period is over, the ownership of the facility will be transferred to the ICE.
Acciona expects to start construction work at the end of 2012 and put it into service towards the end of 2013. Once grid connected, the Chiripa wind farm will produce over 200 GWh in an average year.
The country ended 2010 with an installed wind capacity of 179 MW.
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