The Latin American country of Costa Rica has achieved an impressive milestone in green energy production by generating 100 per cent of its energy from renewable resources, with a combination of hydropower and geothermal for 75 days in a row.
Thanks to the favorable rainy conditions in the first months of the year, four of Costa Rica's hydropower plants — Arenal, Cachí, La Angostura and Pirrís — are generating nearly enough electricity to power the entire country. Using a mix of geothermal, solar, and wind energy sources, the nation of 5 million inhabitants hasn't needed an ounce of coal or petroleum to keep the lights on since December of 2014.
The state-owned power supplier Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) said in a press release that, according to National Electric System figures, it has not been necessary to use hydrocarbons to supply the country's grid at all in 2015, for the months of January, February and so far in March.
"With these (rain) conditions and the reserves accumulated to date, the ICE estimates that the downward trend in rates for all consumers will continue in the second quarter," the power agency was quoted as saying in the Latin American Herald Tribune.
In order to continue being fossil fuel-free, Costa Rica needs to maintain a steady flow of water. That's why the Central American nation has budgeted a nearly $1 billion geothermal project to tap into the country's volcanos to expand its use of geothermal power, which generated 10 per cent of Costa Rica's power last year, in mid-2014. The project, which is being co-funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency and the European Investment Bank, is expected to be located in Guanacaste near Rincón de la Vieja. The first plant, costing $333 million to build, is expected to produce 55 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 55,000 homes. Upon completion, two 50 megawatt plants will be built nearby, about 25 miles (42km) from the Pailas II plants.
It helps that Costa Rica, which aims to be carbon-neutral by 2021 according to Charley Cameron of Inhabitat, has excellent infrastructure. In fact, World Economic Forum ranked the country as No. 2 in Latin America, trailing Uruguay, for their electricity and telecommunications infrastructure, in their 2014 Global Competitiveness Report.
While there are obvious environmental benefits to ditching fossil fuels and relying on renewable energy, it leaves the nation at the behest of climate patterns.
"It's good news that more geothermal will be coming on board, as there are obvious downsides of being too reliant on hydropower, especially run-of-the-river systems, which can be hindered by seasonal changes in water flow," Science Alert states.
"Droughts can also severely impact power supplies. And there are also some environmental downsides to hydroelectric dams more generally, namely the impact on riparian ecosystems and passing fish."
Nevertheless, it's an extraordinary effort by a small nation and their achievements are commended.
Way to go, Costa Rica!
