Costa Rica, a small nation in Central America, has just achieved a monumental milestone that puts many larger, wealthier countries to shame: for 75 consecutive days, the country met 100% of its electricity demand with renewable energy.
This incredible achievement not only highlights Costa Rica’s commitment to sustainability but also underscores the viability of renewable energy as the future of global power generation.
In early 2015, Costa Rica’s state-owned power supplier, the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), celebrated a year marked by entirely environmentally-friendly electricity.
According to ICE, a combination of heavy rainfalls, primarily in the first quarter of the year, made this 100% renewable energy achievement possible.
The rain boosted the country’s hydroelectric power generation, particularly at four hydroelectric plants, allowing the country to forego burning fossil fuels to meet its energy needs.
For three months—January, February, and March—Costa Rica was powered almost exclusively by hydropower, alongside contributions from geothermal, wind, solar, and biomass sources.
This means that the entire energy supply was derived from zero-emission sources, a remarkable feat for any nation, let alone a small one with a population of only 4.8 million.
A Small Country, Big Energy Goals
It’s essential to keep in mind that Costa Rica is not a large or industrialized nation.
With a land area of just 51,000 square kilometers (roughly half the size of the US state of Kentucky), it’s easy to assume that the country might face significant challenges in meeting such ambitious energy goals.
Yet Costa Rica’s achievements in clean energy are even more remarkable when you consider the country’s lack of heavy industries.
Unlike nations heavily reliant on manufacturing or mining, Costa Rica’s primary sectors are tourism and agriculture, both of which are far less energy-intensive.
Despite these factors, Costa Rica has developed a robust and reliable electricity infrastructure, one that powers the entire nation without depending on polluting fossil fuels.
A Remarkable Track Record in Renewable Energy
How is it that a country of Costa Rica’s size and economic structure has managed to pull off such an extraordinary feat?
One key factor is its long-standing commitment to renewable energy.
In fact, the country’s energy mix has been predominantly renewable for several years.
In 2014, hydropower alone accounted for around 80% of Costa Rica’s total electricity generation, with geothermal energy contributing another 13%.
These sources, alongside smaller contributions from wind, solar, and biomass, have helped Costa Rica become one of the world’s most successful nations in transitioning to renewable energy.
Costa Rica’s energy infrastructure stands out not only for its sustainability but also for its affordability and reliability.
According to the World Economic Forum’s 2014 Global Competitiveness Index, Costa Rica ranks second in Latin America, behind only Uruguay, for its electricity and telecommunications infrastructure.
This impressive ranking is no accident—Costa Rica has made significant investments in its grid and energy generation technologies, ensuring that its citizens have access to reliable, low-cost power.
Sophie Vorrath, a reporter at RenewEconomy, highlights that Costa Rica’s household coverage rate for electricity is an impressive 99.4%, a figure that places it among the best in the region.
In addition to this, Costa Rica consistently offers some of the lowest electricity prices in Latin America, making sustainable energy not only a practical but also an affordable solution for its people.
The Power of Hydropower—and the Risks of Over-Reliance
While hydropower has been a central element of Costa Rica’s renewable energy success, it does come with some limitations.
The country’s run-of-the-river hydroelectric plants, which generate power by harnessing the flow of rivers without building large dams, are highly sensitive to seasonal changes in water flow.
Extended droughts or unpredictable weather patterns can significantly affect the country’s hydropower capacity.
This is a potential vulnerability for Costa Rica, especially as the global climate continues to change.
In addition to these practical concerns, there are also environmental risks associated with hydropower, particularly when it comes to river ecosystems.
The construction and operation of hydroelectric plants can disrupt riparian habitats, affect fish migration, and harm local biodiversity.
Therefore, Costa Rica’s renewable energy future needs to incorporate a diverse mix of sources—especially as it continues to scale up its geothermal energy projects.
Costa Rica’s Growing Geothermal Energy Potential
Luckily for Costa Rica, it’s not just reliant on hydropower.
The country also has vast geothermal potential due to its volcanic geography, which offers significant opportunities for geothermal energy generation.
This type of energy is particularly valuable because it provides baseload power—energy that’s available constantly, regardless of weather or time of day.
In fact, Costa Rica is already a leader in geothermal energy, with plans to expand its capacity even further. In mid-2014, the government approved a US$958 million geothermal energy project aimed at boosting the country’s renewable energy generation.
As noted by Jake Richardson of CleanTechnica, the first phase of the project will see the development of geothermal plants capable of generating 55 MW of energy, at an estimated construction cost of about $333 million.
Additionally, two other plants with a capacity of 50 MW each will be built in nearby regions.
These new plants will help Costa Rica continue its commitment to renewable energy and provide more stable energy sources to complement its hydropower generation.
By investing in geothermal energy, Costa Rica is diversifying its energy portfolio, reducing its vulnerability to the fluctuations of water flow in its rivers, and preparing for a future where renewable energy can power the nation consistently and sustainably.
The Global Impact of Costa Rica’s Achievements
Costa Rica’s success in 100% renewable energy generation offers valuable lessons for the rest of the world.
At a time when many countries are still heavily dependent on fossil fuels, Costa Rica’s example shows that it is possible to meet energy needs sustainably while maintaining economic growth and social welfare.
But can other nations replicate Costa Rica’s success?
The short answer is: yes, but with important caveats.
Costa Rica’s geography and climate—particularly its abundant rainfall and volcanic activity—play a significant role in its renewable energy success.
Not all countries are so fortunate.
Nations without access to these natural resources may need to focus more on developing technologies like solar, wind, and battery storage to achieve similar results.
That being said, Costa Rica’s energy model provides a roadmap for other countries aiming to reduce their carbon footprint and transition to renewable energy.
With the right investments in infrastructure and technology, along with strong political will and public support, 100% renewable energy can become a reality for many countries around the world.
Is Costa Rica’s Renewable Energy Success Replicable?
While Costa Rica’s achievement is a huge step forward for the renewable energy movement, it challenges a common assumption in the global energy debate: that large, industrialized nations are the only ones capable of making a significant transition to clean energy.
It’s easy to assume that only countries with vast resources, heavy industries, or large populations can afford the investment in renewable energy technologies.
After all, shifting an entire national grid to renewables requires large-scale infrastructure projects and a robust energy policy.
Yet, Costa Rica’s example shows that even small, developing nations can achieve 100% renewable energy under the right conditions.
Nations like Costa Rica prove that the transition to clean energy doesn’t have to be a luxury reserved for the wealthiest countries.
It can be a pragmatic and profitable choice for nations of all sizes, even those that don’t have abundant fossil fuel reserves or massive industries.
Countries with access to natural resources such as sunlight, wind, or geothermal activity can make significant strides toward sustainability with the right policy framework and investment in green technologies.
Conclusion: Costa Rica Leads the Way
Costa Rica’s achievement of meeting 100% of its energy needs with renewable energy for 75 days is a global triumph that should inspire action in nations around the world.
While challenges remain—especially regarding the reliance on hydropower and the risks of climate-induced droughts—Costa Rica’s forward-thinking approach to energy has proven that sustainability is not just a lofty goal but a practical and achievable reality.
As the world faces the pressing challenges of climate change, Costa Rica’s model offers an inspiring example of how nations can transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy future.
The success of Costa Rica’s energy policy is a clear message: the future of energy is renewable, and it’s already here.
