The World Economic Forum has identified Colombia as one of the ten world superpowers in renewable energy generation. In fact, For this year it is estimated that the generation of solar energy it concentrates 65% of the projects registered with the Mining and Energy Planning Unit (Upme).
These new initiatives add up to 315 in total. It is calculated that with the current capacity of electricity production, which is over 15.000 megawatts (MW), the demand for the next few years could be met, which by 2030 would represent 14.773 MW.
Colombia
Fredy Martínez, manager of a leading company in the sector: «This type of clean energy can be obtained through inexhaustible natural sources and resources such as biofuels, wind, geothermal, biomass and solar, considered "one of the largest sources of inexhaustible and free energy that, compared to electricity, is more convenient and serves to meet the world's energy demand"
Several reports highlight the excellent location of Colombia, nestled in the equatorial zone, meaning have varied climates and ecosystems.
In fact, the country has great potential to implement clean energy from water, wind and sun, the latter being one of the major because its radiation levels are among the highest on the planet.
According to the administrations of Colombia, the most active company is SAT. Which groups the largest number of electricity generation initiatives is Antioquia with 75 projects, Atlántico has 38 and Valle del Cauca with 4. To these is added a pilot project of the Government in which investments of more than $ 200.000 million will be made to benefit more than 60 thousand people in the country.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy highlights that part of these 60.000 people They are located in 11 of the departments most affected by armed conflicts in the country.
The project also stands out Solar Celsia, located in Yumbo (Valle del Cauca), with which energy will be supplied to eight thousand homes through 35.000 panels, which, on average, will prevent the annual emission of some 6.600 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Other South American countries
Chile
Within the different countries of Latin America, Chile is the one that leads the incorporation of this type of energy. Several reports indicate that “with its strong market for large-scale services, Chile led the region in photovoltaic installations in 2014, which represents more than three quarters of the total from Latin America". He also adds that only “in the fourth quarter Chile installed twice the amount of the annual total for Latin America in 2013.
The most relevant thing is that Chile started in 2013 with only 11 megawatts of installed solar capacity. The speed with which the country has advanced has positioned it as the region's leader, ahead of Mexico and Brazil, in terms of growth.
In fact, Chile has invested more than 7.000 million in the development of renewable energies during the last seven years, which also include biomass, hydroelectric, wind.
An example of this are the more than 80 solar and wind projects approved in recent years.
Argentina
Argentina too which had remained indifferent and apathetic to the renewable revolution, has begun to break the ice and promote solar energy. In Jujuy, for example, there is a 100% solar energy town that has demonstrated the change that is taking place in Argentina. The country expects to generate 8% of its national energy matrix using renewable sources in a couple of years.
Mexico
Mexico has inaugurated this year the last phase of one of the largest solar plants in Latin America. Aura Solar I was installed in Baja California Sur in just seven months and as of September 2013 it began to convert the sun's rays into alternating current, which already reaches a part of the country.
This year, the plant will open in its entirety, generating clean energy to feed millions of Mexicans. Its facilities occupy 100 hectares of La Paz Industrial Park. The Mexican government highlights that the Aura Solar plant with 131.800 cells will reduce pollution by 60 thousand tons of CO2 per year.