Background:

According to the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad Gerencia de Electricidad, approximately 100% of Costa Rica’s energy supply has been generated from renewable energy since 2019. Hydropower accounted for 69% of the country’s installed generation capacity, followed by 13% thermal, 12% onshore wind, 2% biomass, and 0.15% solar.  The country has a notable geographic advantage in its favorable rainfall levels that benefit hydropower. However, climate change threatens the country’s hydropower potential due to environmental events, such as heat waves, floods, droughts, and impact of climate change, which can lead to variations in power generation capacity.

Main Objective:

Support the assessment of the field data base and environmental conditions in the North Pacific Coast of Costa Rica as well as recommend necessary investments for marine-coastal infrastructure that would enable the development of offshore wind power.Support the assessment of the field data base and environmental conditions in the North Pacific Coast of Costa Rica as well as recommend necessary investments for marine-coastal infrastructure that would enable the development of offshore wind power.

Expected Results:

A series of feasibility studies to collect the meteorological and oceanic conditions along the North Pacific Coast of Costa Rica through a Buoy Monitoring System and to assess the necessary marine-coastal infrastructure for the development of an offshore wind farm. The spread of offshore wind power in Costa Rica has the potential to revitalize the national economy, increase electricity grid diversification, enhance local and regional electricity markets, and prepare the country for the foreseen increase in electricity demand anticipated in the national future development plans.