For the third consecutive year, Costa Rica demonstrates that renewable sources meet almost all country’s electricity needs. The ‘green’ energy covered its electricity consumption almost exclusively thanks to renewable sources, Reve reported.
According to the data from the National Center for Energy Control, Costa Rica has been using clean energy for only 300 days. In comparison with 2016 and 2016, this figure is more impressive: renewable energy had fed the country 299 and 271 days respectively.
The country’s impressive milestone is confirmed by the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (ICE Group), the state company responsible for electricity and telecommunications services.
Costa Rican record surprises again despite all the particularities of the case. The nation has 4.8 million inhabitants, which is just over half of the citizens of London, and the huge hydroelectric plants do most of the work. Traditionally, 78.26% of the electricity used nationwide comes from water.
The country’s energy matrix, in fact, includes 10.29% of wind energy, 10.23% of geothermal energy and 0.84% of the solar energy and biomass.
In other words, renewable sources meet 99.62% of Costa Rican electricity needs. While on the one hand, solar energy still has a marginal part, on the other hand, wind energy is one of the sectors in full development in the country.
In general, size and the environment help the small South American country that is not willing to stop the progress. The government has set a clear goal for 2021 to become completely carbon-neutral, including transportation sector.
At the Costa Rican Congress, there are two legislative proposals for alternative mobility that, if approved, would introduce tax exemptions to the importation of electric cars, create a national network of charging stations and force the electrification of a part of the public car park.
