A green energy powerhouse



Costa Rica is known for its natural beauty, but what many people don’t yet know is that this small Central American country is also one of the leading producers of green energy in the world. Costa Rica has set itself ambitious renewable energy goals, and it is well on target to achieving near 100% renewable energy production.
On November 22, 2017 Costa Rica’s electricity generation statistics hit the records again when the country was able to produce all of its energy using renewable sources for the 300th day in 2017. To provide context, that means that on that date, only 26 days saw electricity production by non-renewable sources. A staggering 201 consecutive days of uninterrupted 100% renewable energy production was also recorded.
This breaks a previous record of 299 days which was set in 2015. Costa Rica is able to produce its renewable energy thanks to abundant natural resources that favour energy production. Its terrain and the geology allow for significant hydropower resources which account for over 75% of the energy produced in the country. Meteorological conditions such as steady rainfall have contributed to the availability of hydroelectricity.
Geothermal, Biomass, and Solar energy also contribute to the energy mix in Costa Rica. A popular tourist destination, the government has long-favoured sustainability and preservation of its natural resources. Though the country is not yet fully carbon neutral – natural gas and petrol are still used for heating, cooking and as automotive fuels – the country stands in stark comparison to other developed and developing nations when compared in the field of renewable energy.

Renewable energy, especially that produced as hydropower, does not come without its drawbacks. Damming rivers and stemming the natural flow has caused shifts in basin ecology, disrupting wildlife and affecting the population in the flow areas. 

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