- Costa Rica has launched a feasibility study on applying green hydrogen in industry, agriculture, and heavy-duty transport.
- The initiative aims to boost decarbonisation and drive rural economic growth through projects like green ammonia in Huetar Norte.
Costa Rica has launched a feasibility study on applying green hydrogen across industry, agriculture, and heavy-duty transport under the Costa Rica Green Hydrogen project, supported by the Mitigation Action Facility. With an electricity grid powered almost entirely by renewables, the country is positioned to integrate hydrogen as a key element of its carbon neutrality strategy.
Furthermore, Deputy Minister of Energy Ronny Rodríguez said Costa Rica’s clean energy resources provide an ideal platform to test hydrogen through business cases that shape national policy. A central focus is the production of green ammonia in the Huetar Norte region, where officials expect a hydrogen hub to drive economic growth and support the nation’s decarbonisation goals.
“This is a unique model; Costa Rica has tremendous support and the opportunity to build capacity in both the public and private sectors, with State leadership,” Rodríguez said. “We must reduce carbon accumulation in the atmosphere, and hydrogen offers one of the greatest potentials for the future. We aim to generate knowledge for new generations and equip them with tools to mitigate climate change.”
Meanwhile, the project extends beyond hydrogen production and commercialisation. Plans include creating a training institute to provide technical education in hydrogen technologies and establishing an ISO certification institute to close regulatory gaps and build a hydrogen-based economy.
In addition, Costa Rica pioneered hydrogen innovation over a decade ago, becoming the first Latin American country to produce and use green hydrogen in transport. While Chile and Colombia have since taken the lead, the new initiative seeks to reinforce Costa Rica’s decarbonisation strategy and restore its role as a regional leader in hydrogen development.
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is implementing the project. It is working to form a partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to expand hydrogen applications in industry and accelerate Costa Rica’s low-carbon transition.