Costa Rica Ran on 100% Renewable Energy

Is it currently possible to power an entire country on solely renewable energy?

The answer is yes: Costa Rica just went 75 days using only renewable energy sources for electricity!  And, on top of the international praise the country is receiving, Costa Rican residents enjoyed a 7-15% drop in electricity prices during that period.

A Carbon Neutral Country by 2021

With plenty of volcanic action, the geothermal energy opportunites abound in this Central American country. Additionally, significant recent rainfall filled up dams and allowed for the hydroelectirc infrastructure to operate at full tilt (Costa Rica had been in a period of extended drought before that).  

Part planning, part luck, Costa Rica is setting the gold standard for the rest of the world when it comes to clean energy.

So while rainfall can be intermittent, if Costa Rica bolsters their solar and wind development, 100% renewable energy all the time could be possible.  In fact, policymakers have set a goal for carbon neutrality by 2021 for the county. If Costa Rica meets the target, it will likely become the first carbon-neutral country in the world!

Of course, there are some strategic advantages that make 100% renewable electricity possible for Costa Rica:  a population under 5 million, no major industry requiring significant power supplies, ideal topography, and support from policy makers.

Nonetheless, it is a significant feat for a nation of any size to have fossil fuel free electricity - and a benchmark for the rest of us.

Ready to install solar on your home?  Help increase renewable energy in your community - and lower your electricity bills.