Energía solar, eólica y comunidades energéticas en Colombia

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the solar and wind energy landscape in Colombia as of early 2025. It details the current installed capacity, growth projections, the institutional and regulatory framework, and the financial challenges facing the sector. A significant focus is placed on the government's initiative to establish 'energy communities' to democratize energy access, as well as the socio-environmental and equity challenges associated with large-scale renewable projects, particularly in regions like La Guajira.

• Solar and wind energy capacity in Colombia grew from 1.5% of the total electrical matrix in 2022 to approximately 9% in 2024, a growth driven exclusively by solar energy. By the end of 2024, solar capacity reached 1,928 MW, while no wind projects were recorded in the system's net effective capacity, although some projects remained in testing phases.
• Colombia possesses significant renewable potential, with onshore and offshore wind estimated at 35 GW and 50 GW respectively. Solar potential is estimated at 8,000 GW for projects over 50 MW and 7.4 GW for those under 5 MW. La Guajira is identified as a critical region for wind energy, accounting for 18 to 21 GW of the national wind potential due to high wind speeds and capacity factors.
• The Colombian government aims to create 20,000 energy communities by 2026 under the National Development Plan 2022-2026 to promote energy democratization. These communities are defined as organized groups of natural or legal persons cooperating to generate, commercialize, or efficiently use energy via renewables and distributed energy resources.
• Investment in clean energy in Colombia dropped by nearly 70% between 2022 and 2023, falling from USD 1.2 billion to approximately USD 410.2 million. This decline is attributed to high capital costs, changes in tax incentives, and pressure to lower energy prices. To meet the National Energy Plan (PEN) goals for solar and wind capacity by 2052, an investment of up to USD 92.4 billion is required.
• The wind energy sector faces significant setbacks, with approximately 1.3 GW of projects discarded across various development phases. Specific projects suspended indefinitely include Windpeshi (205 MW), Tumawind (208 MW), and Chemesky (99 MW), while others like Alpha (212 MW) and Beta (280 MW) were cancelled.
• Legal frameworks mandate the distribution of benefits from renewable projects to local municipalities and communities. For plants over 10 MW, the standard transfer is 1% of gross energy sales, but Law 2294 of 2023 increases this gradually to 6% for new plants and 4% for operating plants in high-wind or high-radiation areas. If ethnic communities are present, they receive 60% of these funds, with 40% going to the municipality.

APA

Vega-Araújo, J., Cabré, M. M., & Gil, M. P. (2025). Energía solar, eólica y comunidades energéticas en Colombia. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/solar-eolica-colombia-sei2025.pdf

Chicago

Vega-Araújo, José, Miquel Muñoz Cabré, and María Paula Gil. Energía solar, eólica y comunidades energéticas en Colombia. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2025. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/solar-eolica-colombia-sei2025.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Vega-Araújo |first1=José |last2=Cabré |first2=Miquel Muñoz |last3=Gil |first3=María Paula |title=Energía solar, eólica y comunidades energéticas en Colombia |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=April 2025 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/solar-eolica-colombia-sei2025.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{vegaarajo2025energa, author = {Vega-Araújo, José and Cabré, Miquel Muñoz and Gil, María Paula}, title = {{Energía solar, eólica y comunidades energéticas en Colombia}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2025}, month = apr, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/solar-eolica-colombia-sei2025.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }