La transición energética en Colombia: análisis y recomendaciones para la eliminación gradual de la generación a partir del carbón

The document argues that Colombia has the technical and economic capacity to phase out coal-fired power generation by leveraging its high hydroelectric capacity and expanding non-conventional renewable energy sources. It notes that most existing coal plants are obsolete, with an average age of 34 years, and that new coal projects are largely stalled due to financial and social opposition. The brief highlights a complementarity between hydroelectricity and renewables (solar and wind) that can ensure energy security during droughts, reducing the need for fossil fuel backups. It also warns that relying on natural gas as a transition fuel is risky due to limited national reserves, estimated to last only about eight years. The report recommends that the Colombian government lead the transition by abandoning coal generation and promoting a diversified, carbon-neutral electricity sector by 2050.

• Colombia possesses the necessary elements to plan the gradual elimination of coal-fired thermoelectric plants, including ambitious NDC commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, decreased investor interest in new coal projects, and a significant pipeline of renewable energy projects expected to be installed over the next 10 years.
• The Colombian electricity matrix is dominated by hydroelectric power (68.2%), while non-conventional renewable energy sources (NCRES) like solar and wind had a share of less than 1% in 2019. However, the government aims to increase NCRES capacity to 2,500 MW by 2022, raising their share to over 12%.
• Coal-fired power plants in Colombia are largely obsolete, with an average age of 34 years. These plants represent 9.3% of the net effective capacity (1,619 MW) and generated 10.2% of the national demand in 2019.
• New coal generation projects are practically stalled. Of 47 registered projects, only two (Central Térmica La Luna and Termobijao) are considered potentially viable for construction, while others lack environmental licenses or grid connection approvals.
• A 100% renewable matrix is feasible in Colombia due to the complementarity between hydroelectric power and NCRES; during droughts (El Niño), when water reservoirs are low, solar irradiation and wind speeds typically increase.
• Natural gas is often viewed as a transition fuel, but Colombia's reliance on it is problematic because national reserves are estimated to last only about eight more years.

APA

Barcha, J. U., Walker, F. B., Limas, A. P., Puerto, L., Sanmiguel, V., & Restrepo, G. P. (2021). La transición energética en Colombia: análisis y recomendaciones para la eliminación gradual de la generación a partir del carbón. Transforma. https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/21.05-Documento-2-3-Energia.pdf

Chicago

Barcha, Juan Uribe, Felipe Bonilla Walker, Andrea Perez Limas, Lina Puerto, Valentina Sanmiguel, and Giovanni Pabón Restrepo. La transición energética en Colombia: análisis y recomendaciones para la eliminación gradual de la generación a partir del carbón. Transforma, 2021. https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/21.05-Documento-2-3-Energia.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Barcha |first1=Juan Uribe |last2=Walker |first2=Felipe Bonilla |last3=Limas |first3=Andrea Perez |last4=Puerto |first4=Lina |last5=Sanmiguel |first5=Valentina |last6=Restrepo |first6=Giovanni Pabón |title=La transición energética en Colombia: análisis y recomendaciones para la eliminación gradual de la generación a partir del carbón |publisher=Transforma |date=2021 |url=https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/21.05-Documento-2-3-Energia.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{barcha2021transicin, author = {Barcha, Juan Uribe and Walker, Felipe Bonilla and Limas, Andrea Perez and Puerto, Lina and Sanmiguel, Valentina and Restrepo, Giovanni Pabón}, title = {{La transición energética en Colombia: análisis y recomendaciones para la eliminación gradual de la generación a partir del carbón}}, institution = {Transforma}, year = {2021}, url = {https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/21.05-Documento-2-3-Energia.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }