Educational Center for promotion of Renewable Energy, Ecotourism and Heritage Preservation

Why do we choose Renewable Energy?

Social / Economical reasons:- Easter Island location (high transport costs)- Take advantage of the Natural Resources available in the Island in a sustainable wayEnvironmental reasons:- Reduce pollution and CO2 emissions (market!)- Manage waste inside the Island

3. Other :- Promote a new way of tourism (ECO-TOURISM)- Reliability of the energy source

Advantages and Drawbacksadvantages ...

clean no fossil fuels cheap operation no transport politically accepted

... drawbacks

high investment not mature tech. reliability Visual & eco impact complex tech.

Actual Stage: diesel generators Very old high maintenance costs or replacement Fuel is very expensive (shipping) electricity bill unacceptably high Not reliable Pollution. CO2, SO2, NOx emissions Easy to operate, can be run by the islanders Mature technology (no surprises)

Still developing. Expensive. Easy to operate, and low maintenance costs. Low Efficiency. A very extense area should be covered to provide enough energy. Visual impact. Depends on weather conditions. Backup system. Considered in our single house upgrading for houses in rural areas. Depends on how the technology improves.Alternative: solar photovoltaic

Alternative: solar photovoltaic

Alternative: wind power Average wind speed very low (4 m/s) Wind direction is not fixed (control tech) The energy is not provided continuously. Need for backup system to be reliable. Huge area required. (wind turbines must be separated) Best location: coasts (Moais location). Very high visual/ecological impact.

Alternative: wind power

Alternative: tidal / wave power Highest initial investment No data about the difference between high/low tide (must be ad least 10 meters) Sea level is changing due to global heating. Location: coast (Moais location). Very high visual impact. It is a very huge building work. Ecological impact: fishing

Alternative: tidal / wave power

Alternative: biomass Not very expensive to install Waste can be used to provide energy Not enough resources to run the island. (it can be used together with other source of energy) Forrest must be kept as it is now (island history!) Emissions of CO2 in the combustion process (electricity production in biomass plants) In our project we use human / cow waste to produce biogas for cooking.

Alternative: biomass

Alternative: solar thermal energy Cheap and easy to install / operate First stage of the project. Make people feel confident (Educational function) Mature technology. Can be developed in the island High potential due to islands location Little visual impact and no ecological impact at all

Alternative: solar thermal energy

Alternative: geothermal energy Reliable. It can work 98 % of time. The island presents high potential (volcanic area). Only one set of wells needed. (~6 MW) Clean energy. Low emission level. Very low operation maintenance costs Located inland. Little visual impact. High investment. Need for prospection.

Alternative: geothermal energy

Our choice... Heating water: Thermal solar Energy175 liter 2.5 m2 surface.Natural flow. Indirect heat exchange.

Our choice... Electricity production: Geothermal plantBinary plant based on Kalina cycle1 production 1 reinjection well6 MW installed (growth considered)

Our choice... Cooking: Biogas produced from human & cow sewage. Water and organic waste treatment and the help of 135 cows. Fertilizer produced No contamination of drinking water

Future view Photovoltaic solar panels Hydrogen cells systems Biogas / Biomass turbines Others? Who knows!!