Accelerating the energy transition is one of the main objectives that the National Government has set for itself, but the president of the Colombian Association of Electric Power Generators (Acolgén), Natalia Gutiérrez, assured that this «energy transition is in intensive care».

«Trying is advancing, but it is not enough. We need a greater commitment from all Colombians so that the generation projects that are going to bring us great enter,» said Benefits.

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According to XM data, in recent years around 1,500 megawatts have entered the national grid; however, this figure is lower than expected.

In 2020, 16 percent of the expected capacity entered; in 2021, only 7 percent and in 2022, 28 percent. For this year, it is expected that power generation projects for 6,600 megawatts will come into operation, of which 91 percent is from renewable energy, including water.

This is the result of the fact that, currently, a generation project that should take four years can be taking up to eight years to start operating, that is, construction is taking twice as long.

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Natalia Gutiérrez, president of Acolgén.

Negative signs for the energy transition

It would mean a reduction of half the construction times of the projects

For the union leader, these delays imply not only a negative signal to attract new investmentbut they can also prevent Colombians from having more competitive prices for electricity.

«If the correct measures are adopted regarding the connection processes, the times for environmental approvals, along with efficient processes with society, would mean a reduction of half the construction times of the projects«said Natalia Gutierrez.

Likewise, he stated that the ministries of the Environment and the Interior have in their hands the possibility of carrying out the adequate social and environmental licensing of the projects and that are carried out under real times and commitmentsbut above all realistic.

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‘Energy transition is in intensive care’

Without projects there are no resources. President, the energy transition is in intensive care

«Without projects there are no resources. President, the energy transition is in intensive care And this worries us because the country is ceasing to receive clean and renewable energy that benefits us all,» added the president of Acolgén.

Also, make sure that increased taxes on non-conventional renewable energy projects send mixed messages. A higher tax burden, according to Natalia Gutiérrez, could lead to projects becoming financially unfeasible.

«If we review what is included in the tax reform and some articles approved in the National Development Plan, about 75 percent of the profits are being dismantled that these projects have thanks to Law 1715 of 2014 and Law 2099 on energy transition», they highlighted.

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Photo:

Santiago Saldarriaga. TIME

Natalia Gutiérrez also said that without clear rules of the game, investor confidence in the country and in the sector will be lost. Losing the opportunity to provide incentives to leverage the energy transition means condemning ourselves in the medium and long term to maintain a high dependence on fossil fuels«, he added.

A study by the Regional Center for Energy Studies (Cree) indicates that current electricity generation capacity needs to be multiplied five times if Colombia wants to be carbon neutral by 2050. This means increasing installed capacity three times with water, 13 times solar energy and 15 times wind energy.