Superhot Rock Geothermal in Costa Rica

The document highlights that superhot rock geothermal energy could be a transformative resource for Costa Rica, with just 1% of its estimated resource potential capable of producing 77 GW of energy capacity. This amount far exceeds the country's 2021 electricity consumption of 12,734 GWh. While not expected to reach commercial scale by Costa Rica's 2030 goal of 100% renewable electricity, the technology could support long-term net-zero goals by 2050, diversify energy supply, and reduce land-use requirements compared to other energy sources.

• Preliminary modeling by the Clean Air Task Force and the University of Twente indicates that Costa Rica possesses significant superhot rock resources; specifically, 1% of this resource could provide 77 GW of energy capacity and generate over 637,608 GWh of electricity.
• The energy potential from 1% of Costa Rica's superhot rock resource is estimated to be 50 times the country's electricity consumption in 2021, which was 12,734 GWh.
• Superhot rock geothermal is characterized by high energy density and low land requirements, needing approximately 12 km² to produce 1 GW, which is significantly less than natural gas (160 km²), solar (180 km²), offshore wind (520 km²), or biomass (14,000 km²).
• Although superhot rock geothermal will not be commercially available in time to meet Costa Rica's 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution goal of 100% renewable electricity, it could support the country's 2050 net zero target by diversifying supply and offsetting hydropower reductions.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (n.d.). Superhot Rock Geothermal in Costa Rica. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144653/Costa-Rica-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Superhot Rock Geothermal in Costa Rica. n.d. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144653/Costa-Rica-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Superhot Rock Geothermal in Costa Rica |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144653/Costa-Rica-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforcendsuperhot, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Superhot Rock Geothermal in Costa Rica}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144653/Costa-Rica-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }