El Salvador geothermal potential estimated at 2,210 MW
Berlin geothermal power plant of La Geo in El Salvador (source: Enex)
Alexander Richter
17 Oct 2013
Currently deriving about 25% of its electricity from geothermal and being number two in installed capacity in the region with 204 MW, El Salvador has a potential of up to 2,210 MW that could potentially fuel all electricity demand in the country.
Organizations like the Energy and Environment Alliance of Central America urge governments to invest in geothermal energy exploration as it is they who bear the risk of such disbursements.
Salvador Rivas, regional coordinator for the Alliance, said that while Central America has significant potential for power generation very little utilization for power generation can be found today.
“It is the responsibility of governments to study possible mechanisms for geothermal exploration, later when more is known about resource potential, private business can enter to develop the resources.”, he said.
Due to the exploration risk in geothermal development, which is hard to overcome by private players, exploration and early development has to be done by governments. He estimates the rough cost for a geothermal well of $2 million per well.
Central America is among the regions in the world with the greatest potential for geothermal power generation, with an estimated 13,210 MW. The potential for the region presents roughly 13 times the total demand for El Salvador, which currently has an installed power generation (not only geothermal) of 558.6 megawatts.
A study by the the Alliance reports El Salvador as the second country with the largest installed geothermal capacity, with 204.4 megawatts, after Costa Rica, with 217.5 megawatts.
El Salvador has a recorded potential of up to 2,210 MW. Honduras and Panama are the only countries in the region that still do not exploit their geothermal resources. “Several countries already use renewable energy, and for this case, geothermal. At least I can ensure that the potential that each country has is enough to duplicate what is currently used, “said Rivas.
Salvadoran Industrial Association (ASI) notes that El Salvador should continue exploration projects in order to diversify the energy matrix and reduce energy costs for businesses and homes.
“Exploration is a necessity. Even if there is an element of risk in development, particularly since we know that El Salvador is blessed with sufficient geothermal resources, “said John Ceavega, Energy Manager of El Salvador’s Union of Industrialists. Today, nearly 25% of the power generated in El Salvador is provided by geothermal, another 45% by hydro power and the rest by oil. In the time of draughts, the majority of power generation is driven by oil.
Source: La Prensa Grafica
