Costa Rica has been setting the standard for renewable energy since the 1970s, and after today’s visit to the wind turbines near the continental divide, it is easy to see why this country takes so much pride in its energy infrastructure. The country currently generates around 13,000 kilowatts of energy through renewable sources, with roughly 70% coming from hydroelectricity, and geothermal and wind each making up about 15% of the remaining mix. Fossil fuels sit at just 1%. For context, the United States is still wrestling politically over whether to invest in offshore wind turbines as a source of renewable energy, while Costa Rica has been running nearly entirely on renewables for decades.
It is important to note that two years ago, Lake Arenal experienced a serious drought that caused blackouts across the central valley, forcing the country to cut power for several days to conserve energy. When hydroelectricity falls short, Costa Rica compensates with wind and geothermal before turning to fossil fuels as a last resort. Another major drought is expected due to climate change, and the country knows that the reliability of its greatest energy asset is becoming harder to predict. This tension became even more clear during our visit to Life at Monteverde, a local coffee farm built around sustainable practices.
Costa Rica built something worth acknowledging here, and what today made clear is that even the most forward-thinking energy systems are not immune to the consequences of a changing climate. The real work now is figuring out how to protect what they have built.