MINAE was created in the 1970s to aid Costa Rica's participation in the UN sponsored Central American Energy Programme. Its aim is to assist in the development and promotion of integrated energy planning, policies, and strategic actions to contribute to the sustainable development of Costa Rica.

The National Off-Grid Electrification Programme based on Renewable Energy Resources.
Conducted by MINAE in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), this programme is designed to assist in the removal of existing barriers that prevent the utilization of renewable energy sources in remote rural areas. Conducted in two phases.
Phase I includes the creation of institutional, financial, and regulatory support for renewable energy. 
Phase II focuses on renewable energy projects in order to provide all households in Costa Rica with modern sources of electricity.