With 1.715 2014 law, which regulates the renewable energy integration to the national energy system, Colombia aims to encourage the development of energy sources with environmental, social and economic sustainability criteria.
The Mines and Energy Ministry, together with the Institute of Planning and Promotion of Energy Solutions for non-interconnected zones (IPSE), seeks to promote these projects especially in not connected rural areas.
Some IPSE projects that implements renewable energy:
– Hybrid systems (solar-diesel) in Cumaribo, Vichada and Titumate (Unguía)
– Small hydro Arusí and The Yucal (Nuqui) and Palmor, Magdalena and Guacamayas (San Vicente del Caguan)
– Photovoltaic systems in Utría National Park (Chocó), Macuira and Flamengos (Guajira)
Moreover, photovoltaic systems were installed in several indigenous communities in La Guajira; Cardon became part of the national grid; a Polygeneration (solar-diesel) Center will be created in Nazareth and the interconnection line between this town and Puerto Estrella (Uribia) will be built.
In San Bernardo islands in the Colombian Caribbean there are 3 projects. This are Isla Fuerte, Múcura and Santa Cruz Islet; in which the IPSE implement photovoltaic-diesel hybrid systems.
The Ministry intends to complement these facilities with productive projects that generate revenue to users, considering that this is a new service that should start paying and in many cases they do not have the economic resources to do so.
Between March 2 and June 30, 2015 a financing plan allocating $ 100 billion pesos for renewable energy projects, renovation and expansion of public lighting, interior or exterior lighting, cogeneration and self-generation was open.
The Mines Ministry, UPME, FIDENTER, IDB announced this special line to fund projects and investments on favorable terms.
Colombia has great potential in primary energy, a proof of this is that over 70% of electricity production comes from hydropower.
But surely the geographical position of the country to use solar energy is privileged.
It is located in the equatorial zone, which allows for constant solar radiation in certain areas of the country (Magdalena, San Andres, Providencia and La Guajira Peninsula), one of the key elements to become solar power generator.
The country biggest problem is the complex Andes region where climate often changes.
The country average radiation is 4.5 kWh / m2. The best solar resource area is La Guajira peninsula, with 6 kWh / m2 of radiation.
Given this and contrasting it with solar energy development has had so far, we can conclude that Colombia is not using its solar potential.
From the installed capacity corresponding to isolated systems, 57% is intended for rural applications and 43% to communication towers and signaling traffic.
The development of large-scale facilities is limited or almost nil.