2021 Colombia solar power project

Colombia will provide more than 5,000 megawatts of installed capacity in a new round of renewable energy auctions in the first quarter of 2021.

This solar power project will be geared towards power retailers serving large industrial consumers, and these projects must go online before December 2022.

The terms of the auction will be defined by the Ministry of Mines and Energy. Although large-scale industries account for 29% of the country's energy demand, it does not rule out that power companies that supply electricity to households and small businesses may participate.

Colombia successfully held the first renewable energy auction a year ago. Six wind energy projects and three solar farm projects have reached 15-year power purchase agreements (PPA) with bidding retailers.

The Ministry of Energy said in a statement that the new auction is expected to enable the country to make more use of its solar energy potential, especially with the registration of more than 5,800 megawatts of solar projects in the Colombian national mining and energy planning department UPME.

According to UPME's latest overview of all power projects, as of October 31, 2020, the actual power generation of all solar projects registered with UPME is higher, involving 196 projects, totaling 6657 MW.

In comparison, hydropower projects are about 3,822MW, thermal power is 1,658MW, wind power is 3,005MW and biomass is 25MW.

The Colombian government will work with Chile to develop a green hydrogen roadmap in 2020 and the first quarter of 2021.