Costa Rica ended 2025 with 98,6% of its electricity generation coming from renewable sources, according to official data released by the ICE Group, the state-owned company responsible for the country's electricity system.
According to ICE (Costa Rican Electricity Institute), five clean energy sources—water, geothermal, wind, biomass, and solar—sustained last year's performance. This result consolidates the system's recovery following the climate impacts recorded in 2024.
Recovery after El Niño
In 2024, a severe drought associated with the El Niño phenomenon reduced the level of hydroelectric reservoirs, causing the renewable energy share to fluctuate between 86% and 91%. To ensure supply stability, the country temporarily resorted to thermal power plants fueled by fossil fuels.
According to ICE, the 98,6% target for 2025 marks a return to the country's historical standards, which traditionally exceed 95% clean energy generation.
The government has announced plans to add more than 600 MW of new renewable energy plants in the coming years. The goal is to ensure that the growth in electricity demand does not lead to greater dependence on fossil fuels.
Electricity matrix vs. energy matrix
Despite the performance in the electricity sector, data compiled by international organizations, such as the World Future CouncilData indicates that approximately 70% of the total energy consumed in the country, including transportation and vehicle fuels, still depends on imported oil and gas.
The difference between the electricity matrix and the total energy matrix remains one of the main structural challenges of Costa Rican energy policy.
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