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The document argues that Colombia's previous energy auctions, which focused exclusively on price, failed to account for social risks, leading to significant project delays and cancellations, particularly in La Guajira. It proposes a three-phase transition from a price-only model to a multi-criteria evaluation system. This transition includes introducing basic documentary requirements, then structured community relationship and capacity-building plans, and finally requiring verifiable territorial evidence and community co-ownership as eligibility criteria. The report emphasizes that these co-benefits should complement, not replace, existing legal obligations like prior consultation and environmental licensing.

The policy brief assesses the macroeconomic, financial, and labor risks associated with Colombia's energy transition, particularly for five vulnerable departments. It warns that a disordered transition could lead to the loss of 448,000 jobs by 2035 and increased country risk. To mitigate this, the authors propose an integrated policy package comprising macro-fiscal-financial measures to lower capital costs, territorially differentiated labor protections, and a productive-territorial strategy focusing on 'lever sectors' like electric energy, efficient construction, and agroecology to create sustainable local employment.

The document argues that Colombia's previous renewable energy auctions, which focused exclusively on price, led to social conflicts and project cancellations, particularly in La Guajira. It proposes a new framework incorporating non-price criteria—such as local employment, community benefit-sharing, and gender perspectives—into qualification and award processes. Additionally, it suggests creating a dedicated support agency and a 'joining process' (proceso de adhesión) to enable small-scale community energy projects (up to 5 MW) to access the market without competing directly with large developers.

The document assesses the current state and future trajectory of solar and wind energy in Colombia, noting a rise in installed capacity to 9% of the electricity matrix by 2024 and a target of 20,000 energy communities by 2026. It highlights a significant drop in renewable investment between 2022 and 2023 and identifies a funding gap of up to USD 92.4 billion to meet National Energy Plan goals, while emphasizing the need for justice and equity strategies for local communities.

The Community Equity Opportunity Fund (CEOF), led by Meliquina Partners, is a blended finance facility designed to overcome capital and governance barriers that exclude rural and Indigenous communities from the economic benefits of the energy transition in Latin America. By providing milestone-based development loans and catalytic equity, the fund enables community co-ownership of renewable energy projects from early development through operations. The model includes a mechanism for communities to execute a leveraged buyout (LBO) of the fund's equity position approximately two years after the commercial operation date, supported by external credit guarantees. Targeting a fund size of USD 35-40 million, CEOF aims to invest in six to eight projects (15-100 MW each) in Argentina and Colombia, with a projected mobilization ratio of 10:1 for commercial capital. The fund's impact goals include avoiding 417,000 tCO2e annually and creating over 3,200 job-years over 25 years, with a specific gender strategy targeting 40% female representation in the workforce.

Colombia saw a significant increase in solar and wind capacity to approximately 9% of its electricity matrix in 2024, driven primarily by solar expansion. While the government aims to establish 20,000 energy communities by 2026 and has approved substantial future capacity (13.5 GW solar and 2.8 GW wind for 2023-2033), the sector faced a nearly 70% drop in investment between 2022 and 2023. The transition is further complicated by the suspension of several major wind projects and the need for approximately USD 92.4 billion to meet long-term National Energy Plan targets.

The paper argues that Colombia's previous price-based renewable energy auctions failed to consider socio-economic factors, leading to social conflict and project cancellations, particularly in La Guajira. It recommends two main pathways for the new framework: enhancing community engagement and benefit sharing for large-scale projects through stricter qualification requirements and multicriteria award mechanisms, and scaling up energy communities via a reserved auction quota (adhesion process) and a dedicated support agency to prevent 'community washing'.

The report assesses Colombia's solar and wind energy landscape, noting a rise in solar capacity to 9% of the electrical matrix by 2024 but significant challenges for wind energy. It details the government's goal of 20,000 energy communities by 2026 and highlights a 70% drop in renewable investment between 2022 and 2023. The document outlines the legal incentives, financing mechanisms, and the socio-environmental challenges related to equity and community benefits in the energy transition.

The document identifies significant obstacles to Colombia's thermal coal transition, including high fiscal dependence on coal exports, limited subnational institutional capacity, and insufficient environmental regulations for mine closures. It highlights the vulnerability of the Cesar and La Guajira regions, where coal represents a major share of departmental income and employment. The brief argues that a just transition requires strengthening local governance, establishing a permanent transition fund, and ensuring inclusive planning that protects marginalized groups and the civic space.

The report analyzes the socio-economic and institutional crisis in La Jagua de Ibirico, Colombia, triggered by Prodeco's withdrawal from coal mining. It highlights severe gaps in local government powers and funding, significant environmental legacies, and the need for a coordinated national-local framework to support economic diversification and a just transition.

The document serves as an educational tool to explain the technical and economic aspects of Colombia's energy system and the transition toward a low-carbon economy. It distinguishes between energy sources and forms, details the electricity value chain, and explains the environmental necessity of decarbonization and 'Net-Zero' goals. The guide emphasizes that a 'just energy transition' requires both a shift in energy sources and a parallel economic transition to ensure labor reconversion and regional sustainability.

This case study analyzes the socio-economic crisis in La Jagua de Ibirico, Colombia, following the 2020 closure of a major coal mine. It highlights how the resulting loss of resources severely limits the institutional and financial capacity of local authorities to lead a just transition in a region already burdened by armed conflict and social inequality.

The document identifies gaps between the Colombian government's just energy transition commitments and the reality on the ground in thermal coal regions. It highlights the need for increased resources, subnational institutional capacity, and concrete local investments to address the environmental and social legacies of extraction and the economic impact of losing the coal sector.

The document identifies significant obstacles to Colombia's transition from thermal coal, including high fiscal dependence on coal exports and royalties, limited local institutional capacity, and inadequate environmental regulations for mine closures. It highlights the vulnerability of the Cesar and La Guajira regions, where coal provides a substantial portion of departmental revenue and high-paying employment. The brief argues that a just transition requires inclusive stakeholder dialogue, permanent funding mechanisms for productive conversion, and the protection of civic space for marginalized groups, including Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities.

The document identifies significant obstacles to Colombia's transition from thermal coal, including heavy fiscal dependence on coal royalties, weak subnational institutional capacities, and long-term environmental liabilities. It emphasizes that while the national government has made commitments, local regions like Cesar and La Guajira face severe risks from unplanned mine closures and a lack of diversified economic alternatives. The brief recommends establishing a permanent transition fund, strengthening local government competencies, and ensuring inclusive planning that protects the rights of Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities.

The report analyzes the crisis in La Jagua de Ibirico, Cesar, triggered by Prodeco's 2021 renunciation of mining titles. It highlights a severe mismatch between the high social, environmental, and economic impacts of mine closures and the limited legal competencies and financial resources of municipal governments. The document details the collapse of the local economy, significant loss of tax revenue, and persistent environmental liabilities, while proposing the creation of a permanent subregional fund and the strengthening of local institutional capacities to manage a transition beyond coal.

The document explores the application of Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JET-P) in Colombia, analyzing international experiences from South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Senegal. It identifies a significant financing gap, noting that public investment currently represents only 0.01% of required resources. The brief proposes a country platform to attract international public and private capital, while emphasizing the need for grants over loans to avoid increasing public debt. It prioritizes strategic projects such as energy communities and the phase-out of coal plants, while arguing against financing fossil fuel infrastructure or inefficient subsidies.

The document analyzes the JET-P model as a mechanism to catalyze international and private investment for Colombia's energy transition. It highlights a significant funding gap, noting that public investment currently represents only 0.01% of required resources. By reviewing JET-P experiences in South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Senegal, the report identifies risks such as increased public debt and the need for transparent, community-led project design. It proposes prioritizing projects like energy communities and the phase-out of coal plants, while warning against financing fossil fuel infrastructure or inefficient consumption subsidies.

The document argues that the global transition to renewable energy, specifically wind and solar, frequently results in 'green colonialism' where Indigenous rights to self-determination and free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) are ignored. It documents human rights violations and land-grabbing in countries such as Kenya, Norway, Colombia, and Mexico, noting that Indigenous communities often respond through litigation, protest, and efforts to secure project ownership. The authors recommend the formal recognition of Indigenous rights, the strict application of FPIC, the implementation of Indigenous-led environmental impact assessments, and the promotion of Indigenous ownership to ensure a just transition.

The report outlines Colombia's energy transition pathways through 2052, evaluating five scenarios: Actualization, Modernization, Inflexion, Innovation, and Energy Transition (TE). It details the shift from coal and hydrocarbons toward non-conventional renewable energy sources (FNCER), including solar, wind, and hydrogen. The analysis covers demand-side efficiency in residential, industrial, and transport sectors, as well as the strategic role of critical minerals like copper and nickel. Economic evaluations using benefit-cost ratios indicate that while residential and tertiary efficiency measures are highly beneficial, industrial transformation requires significant capital investment and state support due to high private costs.