ICE Board of Directors approves construction of Las Delicias Solar Plant in Puntarenas

The following is a machine translation of an ICE release

The Board of Directors of the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), in its session No. 6653 , approved the start of the feasibility phase for the construction of the Solas Las Delicias Plant, in the province of Puntarenas. The facility will have a capacity of 78 megawatts and its construction will begin in 2026.

Las Delicias will join the Miravalles, San Antonio and Colorado ICE solar plants –owned by the Institute– and will generate 156 gigawatt hours per year (energy equivalent to the annual consumption of 52,000 Costa Rican homes), with a plant factor of 23%. Its investment is estimated at $73 million.

“With Las Delicias, the Institute will add more than 150 new megawatts of solar power to the national grid. Our Generation Expansion Plan 2022-2040 indicates that at least one third of the new power must be photovoltaic, a technology that is already mature, cheap, viable, and plays an important role in the National Electric System,” said Marco Acuña, president of Grupo ICE.

In addition to the solar projects that the Institute will develop, there are four other private plants of 86 megawatts, which will be installed in Guanacaste. ICE is also working on the repowering of the Tejona Wind Farm in Tilarán, which will have a capacity of 42 megawatts with 14 state-of-the-art wind turbines.