Development of Geothermal Greenhouses in Costa Rica

Abstract

The direct use of geothermal energy has dramatically increased over the past decades, attributable to the development of new technologies. Although there is a wide availability of geothermal resources in Costa Rica and there have been geothermal power plants for more than twenty years, the direct use of geothermal energy is very limited and focused in touristic activities. This paper presents a feasibility study exploring the use of geothermal energy in direct use to implement heating systems for greenhouses. A description of the Costa Rican fruit and vegetable market, resource availability, local weather, and regulatory requirements are considered to evaluate the feasibility of the project. A guide to calculating the heat load, its respective pipeline, and heat exchanger design are discussed. Through this analysis, it was found that it is feasible to increase the production of conventional and non-conventional crops with high demand in specific locations within the country. However, it is necessary to study detailed technical solutions and economic feasibility before real systems are set up.