Renewable Energy in Costa Rica

Catalog description

Renewable energy sources are essentially carbon-free and more sustainable than fossil or nuclear fuels. This course reflects the remarkable progress that has been made in the field in recent years. We will spend about one-third of our time in "the classroom," studying renewable energy systems, their underlying physical and technological principles, their economics, their environmental impact and how they can be integrated into the World's energy systems. The rest of the time will be in the field, getting our hands dirty, learning by doing. While Costa Rica is well known as a World leader for conservation policies and eco-tourism, the Central American country also stands out for its environmentally oriented policies and its success in mainstreaming energy sustainability into national policy. Currently, 99.2% of the total primary energy supply in Costa Rica is of renewable type, with geothermal accounting for over a third, hydroelectric dependency not exceeding 50%, and a very small share from fossil fuels (0.6% non-sustainable biomass, and 0.2% from oil). Students learn about renewable energy technologies for the developing World in Costa Rica, one of only a few countries in the region that have taken a concerted structural approach to the issue of sustainable development.