The rise in sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, known as El Niño, is often mistakenly linked to summer heat in Europe.
Costa Rica ran on completely renewable energy for 75 days straight
Grazie soprattutto alle forti piogge e all’energia geotermica il Paese centroamericano ha impiegato per oltre due mesi solo energia pulita.
Giving up fossil fuels and using natural resources is not utopia but reality. It has been demonstrated by Costa Rica that generated energy from renewable sources for 75 days, with a combination of geothermal and hydroelectric power.
The news has been released by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE). “The year 2015 has been one of electricity totally friendly to the environment for Costa Rica,” ICE announced in a press release. The goal has been reached thanks to heavy rainfalls that powered 4 of the hydroelectric plants of the country, allowing using zero impact energy in the first quarter of 2015.
Costa Rica, considered as the happiest country, meets its energy requirements by mainly using hydroelectric power and a mix of geothermal, wind, biomass and solar energy. The country holds the record of the most efficient and economical energy production in Latin America, providing a coverage rate equal to 99.4% of the families, with the region’s lowest prices.
According to the Transnational Institute (TNI), 250kWh, i.e. 7% of a minimum wage, would be enough to meet Costa Rican families’ need with low-medium incomes.
Costa Rica’s energy success is linked to its dimensions: it is a small country with a total area of 51,000 square kilometres, with a population of only 4.8 million people. Moreover, its major sectors are tourism and agriculture, which both require low energy intensity.
The country has other merits. Last year, Costa Rica produced 80% of its electricity by hydroelectric plants, drawing upon diesel only in rare drought periods.
In order to avoid using exclusively hydroelectric power and to take advantage of country’s numerous volcanoes, the government approved a billion-dollar project, co-financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the European Investment Bank, for the construction of new geothermal plants.
Siamo anche su WhatsApp. Segui il canale ufficiale LifeGate per restare aggiornata, aggiornato sulle ultime notizie e sulle nostre attività.
Quest'opera è distribuita con Licenza Creative Commons Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Non opere derivate 4.0 Internazionale.
Hundreds of environmental activists filled the Elliott Bay, Seattle, United States, on board of kayaks, protesting against the decision of the Dutch oil company, Royal Dutch Shell, of exploring for oil off Alaska during summer. Kayakers formed a chain blockading the port of Seattle’s Terminal 5 in order to impede the Polar Pioneer
Tiny amounts of chemical substances were found in drinking water pouring from the taps of three homes in Pennsylvania, United States. According to a study conducted by the environmental scientists of the Pennsylvania State University, the cause should be ascribed to fracking (hydraulic fracturing) activities promoted by the U.S. Government. The paper was published in the
Since the ceasefire began in mid-April, the Israeli military has killed at least 331 people in Lebanon. It is now intensifying both its air and ground attacks.
A new report by Dam Removal Europe confirms an 11 per cent increase in the removal of dams and river barriers — a trend that is also spreading beyond Europe.
An innovative Spanish study has found a link between the pesticide picloram and the onset of colorectal cancer among people under 50.
The European Commission has clarified that passengers are entitled to refunds for cancelled flights even in the face of high fuel prices. Airlines are also prohibited from adding retroactive charges to tickets already purchased.
Italy’s new law on the enhancement of marine resources includes a general provision to protect a unique ecosystem, but for now it lacks concrete enforcement tools.
The latest State of the Climate in Europe report paints an alarming picture: the climate crisis is hitting the continent harder than the rest of the world.