The country that proves 100% clean electricity is possible

In a world where the climate crisis makes headlines every day, there are countries that are writing a different story.
Costa Rica is one of them, making renewable energy its main source of electricity.

The Central American nation has achieved something extraordinary for several years now: generating all of its electricity without burning fossil fuels. Zero hydrocarbons. Zero emissions from its power system. Only renewable energy.

And it was not accidental. It was the result of years of strategic decisions.

A smart combination of natural resources

Costa Rica understood something essential: relying on a single source is not enough. That is why it built a diversified energy matrix, leveraging the best of its geography.

Its electricity comes mainly from:

• Hydropower (the backbone of the system)
• Geothermal energy
• Wind energy
• Solar energy
• Biomass

With reservoirs such as Arenal, Cachí, La Angostura, and Pirrís filled thanks to rainfall, the country was able to meet its entire electricity demand without activating thermal plants.

But the most important factor was not the rain. It was prior planning.

A long-term political commitment

The commitment to renewable energy was not improvised. For years, Costa Rica invested in infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and programs that enabled private participation and distributed generation.

Two mechanisms were key:

• A technology-specific auction system that allowed rapid expansion of renewable capacity.
• Programs that enable citizens to generate their own energy and sell surplus back to the grid.

Between 2006 and 2013, the country attracted more than US$1.7 billion in renewable investment. In 2013 alone, a record US$600 million was allocated to this sector.

The result: a solid, clean, and resilient power grid.

Regional leader and global benchmark

Costa Rica not only leads in Central America.
It has been recognized as one of the best-positioned countries in the world for energy sustainability.

In Latin America, it stands as a benchmark for green public policy and intelligent energy transition.

While many countries are still debating how to reduce their dependence on oil, Costa Rica proves that it is possible to build an almost entirely renewable electricity system.

Benefits beyond the climate

Clean energy does more than reduce emissions.

It also:

• Decreases the need to import fuels.
• Reduces national costs.
• Can translate into lower tariffs for users (estimated at up to a 15% reduction).
• Protects one of its greatest assets: its nature and tourism industry.

A country famous for its biodiversity understood that protecting its environment is not only an environmental cause. It is also an economic strategy.

A model that inspires

Costa Rica set out to make its energy matrix fully clean. And although the path includes challenges, such as climate dependence, the progress is undeniable.

This is not just about generating electricity without polluting.
It is about proving that the energy transition is not a utopia.

It is planning.
It is investment.
It is political will.
It is long-term vision.

Amid so many difficult headlines about the planet, Costa Rica offers something powerful: real proof that a clean energy future is not a promise. It is a reality under construction.

And that truly is good news. 🌿⚡