The photovoltaic energy in Costa Rica began in 1991 with a pilot project in two indigenous “palenques” from the canton of Siquirres.
Then it spread to places like Península de Osa, Isla Caballo, Dos Bocas de Aguirre, Punta Burica de Golfito, Talamanca, Parque Nacional Volcán Chirripó, Rincón de la Vieja and some Guanacaste zones.
The Miravalles Solar Park was the first major solar electricity plant in Costa Rica and was the largest in Central America when being inaugurated, with a capacity of 1.2 GWh / year.
From Guideline NO14 MINAET the “Pilot Plan for Self Distributed Generation” ICE Group was created.
Many Costa Ricans began to install solar panels on homes and industries and more than 350 requests for interconnection were done, emerged a budding PV market in the country.
In February 2015 ICE Group closed its distributed generation pilot plan, indicating that it had reached its installation limit (10 MW).
Thereafter, users can not made new applications for interconnection.
Distributed generation projects were in the air, which has led to an atmosphere of uncertainty in the sector.
ARESEP Board approved in February 2015, with the corresponding calculation methodology, an access fee which covers all expenses incurred by distributors.
Industry sources said it was an excessively high rate, including maintenance and operating costs not related to distributed generation.
They also criticized the need to implement two measuring devices for subscribers, increasing implementation and billing costs associated with the distribution company.
It is important to unblock this situation to achieve the objectives of the National Development Plan and the VI National Energy Plan 2012-2030.
The solution could be found to continue allowing the interconnection of all stakeholders to the network, reviewing the methodology for calculating the access tariff and reviewing the approach to the need to use 2 measuring devices.
The fixed rates were also rejected by the distributors and the Costa Rican Solar Energy Association.
Regulating the incorporation of photovoltaics to the electricity grid is not easy. There are 3 very different interests (consumers, companies in the solar sector and electricity distributors).
What is clear is that if the legislation reduces the number of users interested in distributed generation, does not fulfill its mission.
Regulation should facilitate procedures for simple and speedy interface for any user, minimizing arbitrariness of either party.
In March 2016 ARESEP set new tariffs for distributed generation access.
How will be charged? It will be based on energy removal. It will not be charged for the energy generated by producer-consumer and used directly in self consumption form.
Time will tell whether the methodology established really meets the objective of encouraging the production of solar or wind energy.
In the case of large photovoltaic generation plants selected under the 7200 Law a very striking situation arises.
ARESEP announced the increase of rate bands established for bidders in July 2015 from $ 7.46 and $ 17.80 kW / h to $ 7.95 and $ 19.08 kW / h.
This increase will affect final energy consumer.
What is striking about this is that none of the four developers selected by the ICE requested any increase. This is a “gift” at final energy consumer expense.
This regulator proposal for increase 6.5% rates for a generation technology that every day is cheaper raises many suspicions.