COSTA RICA
Costa Rica is pioneering the future of running on renewable energy.
In the last four years, Costa Rica has generated 98.53% of its electricity from renewable sources.
In 2015, running off purely renewable energy sources such as wind, hydro power, solar and geothermal energy – Costa Rica was able to provide energy for 299 days. An incredible feat, which they tried to match in 2016, but were unable having used anything but fossil fuels for 271 days that year. Excluding the fossil fuels put in cars and gas for heating – this covered every other energy exertion.
2017 saw Costa Rica beat their 2015 record by one day as Costa Rica ran off of clean energy for 300 days of the year. There are not many, if any, countries that can boast a percentage that high.
Year on year, Costa Rica have now managed to reach an average of 300 days running purely off renewable energy.
Costa Rica aspire to become the first nation to completely eliminate fossil fuels. Costa Rica’s president announced earlier this year that they would be banning fossil-based fuels altogether, which would make Costa Rica the first country in the world to completely decarbonize.
Costa Rica already derives 99% of its energy from renewable sources, the biggest hurdle they will face will be in the transportation industry as there is still a limit of affordable cars that are completely fossil fuel free.
Whether Costa Rica do reach their
goal of being completely decarbonized
by 2050 is something we’ll find out in
31 years. However, if a small country
can make such a huge difference to the
world despite their size and lack of
development, it sets an example for
other countries all around the world.
With many countries taking the right steps in eliminating fossil fuels, the future is definitely looking cleaner.
AUGUST 2019 | MANE ENERGY | 7