Costa Rica Country Update

Abstract

Since the last country update report for Costa Rica presented in 2019, geothermal explotation and development in the country for power generation purposes has continued its development The past few years, geothermal explotation and development in Costa Rica for electrical generation purposes have had an important impulse. Since the country's energetic policies are mainly based on renewable energy sources in order to decrease the CO2 emissions, and face climate change effects, geothermal energy continues to provide a base load for the electrical system in Costa Rica and to date is producing around 16 % of the total electrical generation of the country.
The Dr. Alfredo Mainieri Protti Geothermal Field (formerly The Miravalles Geothermal Field, 154.5 MWe) continued its productivity rate in stable conditions and the first unit of Pailas Geothermal Field (42.5 MWe) completed eleven years producing continuously since year 2011. The second unit in Pailas of 55 MWe started its commercial operation in July 2019 with very stable production during this period. A drilling program of 17 wells for the development of Borinquen I (first of two 55 MWe units) is underway with very good results to date.