Large-scale solar gathers pace in Colombia

Colombia's vast solar resource could draw investment in large-scale facilities, writes Diana Delgado Escobar

Colombia's solar energy industry still lags behind many other Latin American countries, notably Brazil and Chile. But high solar radiation levels and a favourable tax regime for renewable projects should allow large-scale solar to play a key role in the country's decarbonisation path.

Around 1.46GW of solar plants with capacities of 100MW or above are planned or under construction, Miguel Lotero, who was deputy energy minister under the administration of former president Ivan Duque, tells Argus. The country has 160.31MW of operational solar capacity across 15 sites, but none has a capacity of 100MW or above, data from market operator XM show.

Colombia's electricity system could become more vulnerable to extreme weather patterns, such as El Nino and La Nina events, so the country is looking to increase solar energy to mitigate this risk, Lotero says.

Given its location near the equator, the country has high solar radiation levels. Government mining and planning unit UPME says Colombia could generate 40GW of solar power, making it attractive for investing in the development of large-scale facilities.

At the end of July, 284.6MW of solar capacity was being tested, so the country could end the year with over 400MW on line.

Among the six projects that are currently under testing is the 187MW La Loma solar farm in Cesar department that is being developed by Italian firm Enel's renewables subsidiary, Enel Green Power. The plant is expected to be fully operational before the end of the year.

La Loma is the first solar project with a capacity above 100MW and is set to be the largest solar farm in operation in Colombia. But it will not hold that title for long as Enel Green Power - which is at the forefront of large-scale solar expansion in Colombia - began construction in July of the Guayepo I and II solar complexes, which have a combined capacity of 486.7MW. The site will be in the municipalities of Ponedera and Sabanalarga in Atlantico department and Enel is investing $290mn in the project. The first phase is expected to be completed in February 2024. Once complete, Guayepo will generate 1,030 GWh/yr - enough to supply 770,000 people.

This summer, the company began building the 132MW Fundacion solar park in the Caribbean department of Magdalena. The project will generate 227 GWh/yr from 2023 under a power purchase agreement (PPA) awarded in last year's renewables auction. Enel will invest $109mn in Fundacion.

Another company to win a PPA was Spain's Powertis, which is building the 135MW Manglares solar project in Turbo, in Antioquia department.

Solar for coal

Domestic companies are also investing in large-scale solar. Colombia's largest coal producer, Drummond, says it is waiting to receive environmental permits to develop a solar farm near its mines in Cesar department. The site will supply its own electricity needs. The initial phase of the project will generate 50MW, but output will rise to 190MW in the second phase. Drummond is working with the renewables arm of France's EDF to build the plant, which will eventually feed surplus electricity into the national grid.

Colombian generator Isagen this month started building the 100MW Sabanalarga site in Atlantico province. It acquired the project from Spanish group Solaer earlier this year and expects to complete the project in the second half of 2023.

Colombian power generator Celsia says it has two large projects awaiting environmental permits, but declined to disclose further details.

Solar projects under testing phase	MW
Name	Capacity
El Paso	67
Bosques solares de los llanos 5	17.9
Bosques solares de los llanos 4	19.9
La Loma	187
Since	19.9
Petalo de Cordoba I	9.9
- XM

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