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I’m told that there is dial-up available currently from ICE, and that some folks (with deeper pockets than my own) pay $300/month for satellite. Surely, there are other options in the works! Fred
The traditional hydro model requires damming up the stream to achieve adequate ‘depth’ to give you enough ‘head pressure’ to spin the generator turbine. This can be problematic in an area that gets periodic deluges like CR. As the history of Lake Arenal shows, dams can wash away easily in the rains of CR. In a free flowing stream situation, a paddle wheel arrangement, in the stream, can be chain or belt driven to a generator above, can accomplish the same thing however inefficiently. The key to any of these schemes is that the power generating device must charge a bank of batteries at 12 or 24v DC, only to be ‘inverted’ to useful 110 vAC power. Another scheme is to use your off-grid generated power to charge an electric plug-in vehicle, like a golf cart. Endless possibilities in the land of blazing sun, stiff fresh breezes and abundant streams! Fred
Which brings up a whole other set of questions. It’s my understanding that the vast majority of the electrical power in CR is generated by hydro (Lake Arenal etc), some geothermal and wind; there’s a new hydro project coming on line in the near future that will make CR a net energy exporter of primarily ‘green’ produced juice. So, if we’re not paying for fuel-fired electricity, why the huge jump in rates? Infrastructure improvements? A cash grab? Other? Fred
