Wind power aluminum energy storage in northern Colombia

How can wind and solar energy be used in Colombia?

The expected large deployment of wind and solar resources in Colombia can be used to leverage creation of local employment, gender equality and benefits to local communities and Indigenous peoples. This will require strengthened policy frameworks to avoid negative efects on these areas.

Could Colombia be a wind power leader?

CABO DE LA VELA, Colombia (AP) — Giant wind turbines tower over a cemetery sacred to Zoyla Velasquez and her Indigenous Wayuu community, native to the La Guajira region in northern Colombia. This arid, wind-swept region, dotted with cacti and roaming herds of goats, holds immense potential to position Colombia as a wind and solar energy leader.

How much wind energy will Colombia generate?

The region could generate approximately 15 gigawatts of wind energy, according to Colombia’s Mining and Energy Planning Unit, which could power up to an estimated 37.5 million homes annually. It’s part of Colombia’s just energy transition, aiming to replace fossil fuels with renewables while supporting vulnerable groups like Indigenous peoples.

Why do we need wind power in La Guajira?

“This renewable energy sector comes to supply the income that the coal exploitation gives us today in La Guajira.” Developing wind projects in Guajira is key to guaranteeing a reliable supply of electricity in Colombia, says Margarita Nieves, founder of Colombian Offshore Wind Research Network and La Guajira native.