Costa Rica energy mix & electricity
In 2025, Costa Rica generated 12.8 TWh of electricity. More than half of it, 74.8%, came from hydropower; wind power was a distant second with 12.1%.
Electricity generation by source in 2025
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 9.58 | 74.8% | +0.6 |
| Wind | 1.55 | 12.1% | +2.1 |
| Other renewables | 1.53 | 11.9% | −0.9 |
| Solar | 0.09 | 0.7% | +0.4 |
| Bioenergy | 0.06 | 0.5% | −1.2 |
| Total | 12.81 | 100% |
Costa Rica: electricity in context
In 2025, Costa Rica generated 12.8 TWh of electricity. That is similar to Honduras. More than half of it, 74.8%, came from hydropower; wind power was a distant second with 12.1%.
The renewable share stood at 100%, placing Costa Rica 1st of 158 ranked countries (among the very top). This puts it 66 points above the world average of 33.8%. It is also above the average for North America (28.8%). Generating one kWh emits about 24 g CO₂e here (world average: 458 g). Few grids anywhere are this clean. On carbon intensity, Costa Rica ranks 3rd of 158 from the cleanest.
Over the past decade hydropower added more generation than any other source (+1.6 TWh since 2015, plus 0.6 percentage points of share). Measured by share of the mix, wind power gained most, up 2.1 percentage points. Taken together, the renewable share rose by 1 percentage point over the decade. Total generation grew by 2 TWh over the same period.
Coal has never been part of the power mix in Costa Rica in any meaningful way.
Wind and solar together provided 12.8% of electricity (solar 0.7%, wind 12.1%), compared with 17.3% worldwide. Wind adds 301 kWh per person.
Costa Rica generates 2,486 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 64% of the global average. Costa Rica is a net exporter, selling 360 GWh more electricity abroad than it imports (3% of domestic demand).
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 2000. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
Costa Rica against the world and North America averages.
Power plants in Costa Rica
The WRI Global Power Plant Database lists 27 utility-scale plants in Costa Rica with a combined capacity of 2 GW. Hydro plants account for the largest slice (66% of listed capacity). The biggest single plant is Moin II and III Power Plant Costa Rica (234 MW, Oil). The database was last updated in 2021, so newer wind and solar farms and rooftop PV are under-represented.
Largest power plants
| # | Plant | Fuel | Capacity MW | Commissioned | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moin II and III Power Plant Costa Rica | Oil | 234 | — | — |
| 2 | Angostura Hydroelectric Power Station Costa Rica | Hydro | 210 | — | — |
| 3 | Garabito ICE Power Plant Costa Rica | Oil | 200 | — | — |
| 4 | Corobici (Miguel Pablo Dengo) Hydroelectric Power Plant Costa Rica | Hydro | 180 | — | — |
| 5 | Arenal Hydroelectric Power Plant Costa Rica | Hydro | 158 | — | — |
| 6 | Pirris Hydroelectric Power Station Costa Rica | Hydro | 134 | — | — |
| 7 | Rio Macho Hydroelectic Power Plant Costa Rica | Hydro | 120 | — | — |
| 8 | Miravalles I and II Geothermal Power Plant Costa Rica | Geothermal | 115 | — | — |
| 9 | Cachi Hydroelectric Power Station Costa Rica | Hydro | 102 | — | — |
| 10 | Ventanas-Garita Hydroelectric Power Station Costa Rica | Hydro | 97 | — | — |
| 11 | Toro II Hydroelectric Power Station Costa Rica | Hydro | 65 | — | — |
| 12 | La Joya Hydroelectric Power Station Costa Rica | Hydro | 50 | — | — |
| 13 | Penas Blancas Hydroelectric Power Plant Costa Rica | Hydro | 38 | — | — |
| 14 | Pailas Geothermal Power Plant Costa Rica | Geothermal | 36 | — | — |
| 15 | Moin I Power Plant Costa Rica | Oil | 32 | — | — |
Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 27 plants on the interactive power plant map.
Solar & wind farms: Costa Rica
35 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 22 MW of solar and 429 MW of wind operating, plus 352 MW under construction or planned.
How does Costa Rica compare?
Costa Rica next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | 100% | 100% | 0% | 24 | 2,486 | 12.8 | — | |
| Panama | 68% | 68% | 32% | 221 | 2,974 | 13.4 | Compare | |
| Nicaragua | 62.4% | 62.4% | 37.6% | 301 | 654 | 4.5 | Compare | |
| Honduras | 55.4% | 55.4% | 44.6% | 322 | 1,153 | 12.5 | Compare | |
| El Salvador | 86.5% | 86.5% | 13.5% | 139 | 1,015 | 6.5 | Compare | |
| Guatemala | 68.3% | 68.3% | 31.7% | 301 | 858 | 15.8 | Compare | |
| Belize | 87.2% | 87.2% | 12.8% | 170 | 1,127 | 0.5 | Compare | |
| North America average | 28.8% | 44.7% | 55.3% | 369 | 9,025 | 5,534 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for Costa Rica
Costa Rica energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in Costa Rica is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in Costa Rica?
How clean is the electricity in Costa Rica?
Does Costa Rica have nuclear power?
How much electricity does Costa Rica use per person?
How much solar power does Costa Rica produce?
Does Costa Rica import electricity?
More countries in North America
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2025. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.