Solar PV technology has swept the latest Colombian Reliability Charge Auction for new power generating facilities, winning 4,441 MW or 99% of all capacity awarded. The Ministry of Mines and Energy awarded the remaining 48 MW or 1% to thermal plants with biomass.
The latter comprises 18 MW to repower a gas plant, a 25 MW new biomass plant and 5 MW for the expansion of a minor biogas plant.
Out of the total 80 plants that have secured a license to start generating electricity in 2027 and 2028, 27 are in the early development phase and 6 under construction. Winning projects include 30 solar parks. The closing price of the auction was $18.2/MWh.
Selected under Colombia's Reliability Charge Auction, these projects will increase the country's total grid-connected power generation capacity from 20 GW to 26 GW once these are online, according to the ministry.
"These results and projects that are underway with firm energy commitments demonstrate that, for the first time in the history of Colombia, the energy assigned is solar (99%) which corresponds to 4.4 GW of new solar plants. We are advancing in better use of the energy potential of the regions, we are advancing in diversification and in the energy transition," said Colombia's Energy Minister Andrés Camacho.
While the ministry has not revealed the list of winners, Enel Colombia announced that it has secured firm energy supply contract for 856 GWh/year, or 1.215 GW, to cover the country's future energy needs with solar power. This makes up 25% of the total awarded capacity.
Enel Colombia said it will deliver the 1.215 GW capacity with 6 PV projects, namely:
Enel Colombia recently also energized the largest solar energy project in Colombia with 187 MW capacity. The La Loma Solar Farm in Cesar will deliver 420 GWh of renewable energy/year for 20 years.
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