The aim of the forum, organized by the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica and the Latin American and Caribbean Network (Relac) for Monitoring, Evaluation and Systematization, was to generate the necessary information on the effects of climate change on the electricity industry.
Both in the production and transmission, distribution and marketing phases, enabling decision-makers to operate and plan a resilient electrical infrastructure capable of adapting to current and future environmental conditions, organizers explained in an explanation.
Costa Rica has become a global leader by achieving 100 percent renewable electricity generation. This success brings with it challenges to both maintain and expand the national electrical infrastructure.
Environment and Energy Minister Franz Tattenbach emphasized that Costa Rica has already achieved balance in the areas of deforestation, carbon capture and agriculture. We are left with changes in industry and transport, which require a certain level of demand management and zero planning. Other neutrality; “That’s where we want to go,” he emphasized.
In addition, on this topic, he said that the transformation that the country must undertake to achieve zero emissions is great in the field of renewable energy.
Investments are needed in the next decade and one of the steps to achieve this would be to provide certain incentives for electricity generation through the Law on Harmonization of the National Electricity System, which is in the Legislative Assembly, he said.
The Forum was attended by the Association of Energy Producers of Costa Rica (ACOPE), the Public Services Regulatory Authority (Aresep), the Chamber of Industry and the National Energy Center.
This room was moderated by Vice Minister of Energy Ronny Rodríguez. They all agree that clean energy is the key to the decarbonization process, sustainable growth and maintaining the country’s achievements in renewable energy issues.
The report “The Covid-19 Crisis in the Electricity Sector in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC): Public Policies to Maintain Service during the Pandemic” by the Inter-American Development Bank reflects that Costa Rica’s renewable electricity production guaranteed the country’s secure energy supply in the face of an unforeseen crisis.
The event was aimed at managers, planners, regulators, public policy makers and collaborative organizations. There was in-person and virtual participation.
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