What is Colombia's power system like?

Colombia’s power system is characterised by large installed capacity for hydropower (70% of total capacity), mostly from plants with significant reservoir capacity. VRE generation capacity, below 1% in 2017, would reach 17% by 2030 under the revised energy plan (UPME, 2018). Additional biomass power by 2030 would account for 3% of capacity.

How much electricity does Colombia produce?

Colombia’s installed electric power generation capacity currently stands at 17,771 MW, with hydro accounting for 68 percent, gas and coal-fired power plants accounting for 31 percent, and the remaining one percent from wind and solar units. The country’s energy matrix is clean but highly dependent on climatic conditions to generate hydro power.

What is Colombia's energy transition process?

Colombia’s energy transition process is underway. Former President Ivan Duque set a goal to increase non-conventional renewable energy installed capacity from one percent to more than 12 percent of the energy matrix by 2022.

Will Colombia have enough hydropower in 2030?

In 2030 the VRE installed capacity will grow to 17%; however, Colombia will still have enough flexibility – even in dry years with limited hydropower generation – thanks to plans to greatly expand transmission capacity and to add another 2.4 GW of hydropower capacity (Ituango project) on top of the large hydro resources already in the system.

Could pumped hydro storage boost energy flexibility in Colombia?

12.5 GW (6.2 gigawatt-hours, GWh) of energy storage, mostly in the GCM and Cordoba Sucre areas where most of the VRE is deployed. In Colombia’s case, pumped hydro storage could be the most suitable option to boost flexibility in the existing system.

Will Colombia build a hydrogen value chain?

With abundant natural gas reserves and the largest coal producer in Latin America, Colombia is focusing on blue hydrogen production as a base from which to start building the hydrogen value chain. In 2022, Colombia published its roadmap for offshore wind development, part of a broader plan to wean the country off hydropower and fossil fuels.