In Cartagena, Ecopetrol’s solar farm at its refinery has reached an installed capacity of 22.1 MW, producing up to 34.4 million kWh annually—enough for 18,200 homes—and achieving CO2 emission reductions near 21,000 tons per year. This pioneering project, the first solar facility within a Latin American refinery, spans 19.9 hectares with 40,146 high-efficiency panels. Its phased implementation involved 370 regional workers, including 50% women trained in photovoltaic technology, reflecting inclusive employment practices. Planned technological upgrades aim to enhance remote and intelligent control by late 2025.
Additional solar initiatives include Promigas and Surtigas’s university-based solar farm generating 700 kWh annually with educational integration and Enel Colombia’s Guayepo I&II plant in Atlántico Department—the country’s largest centralized solar park at 370 MWac—supplying over 1.5 million residents and linking to long-term corporate power purchase agreements. Collective investments in Bolivar exceed 157 billion COP across multiple solar and wind projects, positioning the Caribbean coast as a national renewable energy hub. These projects align with Colombia’s strategic Transición Energética Justa, progressively decarbonizing sectors historically dependent on fossil fuels, and promoting community empowerment and environmental stewardship.
This article was curated and published as part of our South American energy market coverage.
