Abstract

Due to the instability of prices of fuels and climate variability, electricity rates are a sensitive aspect for the competitiveness of the country. The use of alternative energy has become an excellent option of self-sufficiency for private companies and a way to lower the electricity bill and a way start a path toward a low carbon national energy system. The present study analyzed the market of biomass for energy purposes in Guanacaste. The study comprised the biomass market in the region, taking the area of Abangares as the forest core and evaluating forest plantations (supply) and corporate biomass consumers (demand) in a 100 km radius from the production core. The assessment of the offer was based on data queried from FONAFIFO and potential projections of plantation waste; for its part, the demand was obtained through surveys and characterizations of companies that currently consume biomass. The results showed that the dominant species in reforestation was Tectona grandis with a 40.3 % of the total area planted in the region, followed by Gmelina arborea with 13.2 % and with a potentially annual generation of waste greater than 98 000 ton for T. grandis and 44 000 ton for G. arborea. On the other hand, demand showed a capacity of over 250 000 ton/year, being that currently, 48 % is supplied by fossil fuels and only 15.1% by forest biomass (usually chips). Analyzing the financial impact of the possible fuel change by biomass, savings of over 50% are found; however, it was also found the limitation that existing biomass (forest management waste) would not be enough to supply more than 57 % of the current market.

Key words: Energetic market; offering; demand; dendroenergy.