second central american workshop on solar photovoltaic y solar cooking 

february 24-28, 2003, 8 am � 5 pm

justification

costa rica like other central american countries has to import 100% of its oil for local consumption. this affects the economy as well as the environment. according to 1999 data, except for costa rica (95%), other central american countries are only 50-68% electrified, and the possibility of electrification in rural/ remote communities, islands and national parks is very low due to high cost of distribution and transmission of electricity. approximately 50% of the population cooks with firewood, causing deforestation and health problem. the use of solar energy -- an abundant, clean free and decentralized fuel -- can help solve this problem to a great extent..

taking all of this into consideration along with research and 24 years of experience in  disseminating solar energy -- especially solar cooking -- we have thought of organizing next workshop in the beginning of next year to share this information.

for whom: industrialists, sellers, installers, importers, technicians, engineers, university students and possible users etc.

tentative program

the activity with the participation of some foreign and experienced speakers will concentrate on theoretical, but mainly on practical aspects of photovoltaic applications (direct conversion of solar energy into electricity), and components, including sizing, maintenance, solar cooking, solar pasteurization and other thermal applications in brief (like water heating, water distillation and dehydration etc.).

a: lectures: 25-30 hours lectures on different aspects of solar photovoltaic and cooking, offered by national & internationals speakers.

b. other activities: making one solar cooker/oven, real cooking with various solar ovens, half day technical trip, exhibition of solar house and other solar devices in working mode, exhibition of technical literature on solar energy.  an official certificate will be issued to the participants.

official language: spanish

registration

for more information, application form, and registration fee, contact:

shyam s. nandwani, ph.d. coordinator
laboratorio del energ�a solar. departamento de f�sica,
universidad nacional, heredia, costa rica.

tel: (506) 2773 482, 2773 345
fax: 2773 344, 260 1197.

e mail: snandwan@una.ac.cr
web: http://www.una.ac.cr/fis/energia_solar.htm