Colombia has marked a major milestone in its clean energy transition via a landmark renewable energy auction, allocating 995MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity and nearly 100MW of battery energy storage systems (BESS), the Ministry of Mines and Energy confirmed.

Conducted over two days, the auction wrapped up with phased capacity awards. On its first day, the tender granted 270MW of solar PV and the full 100MW of BESS capacity, while the second day added a further 725MW of solar PV to the country’s clean energy pipeline. This auction represents Colombia’s first-ever inclusion of BESS in its clean energy procurement exercises, ushering in a new phase for the nation’s power sector development.

The integration of battery storage into national energy auctions will enable Colombia to diversify its electricity generation mix, mitigate risks from energy market volatility, and bolster reliable firm energy supply. The enhanced energy flexibility will effectively address peak power demand and tackle extreme weather challenges such as El Niño events, strengthening the overall resilience of the national power grid.

Thanks to the successful auction under the current administration, Colombia’s total renewable energy pipeline—covering operational, under-construction and awarded projects—has reached 11GW in scale.

“This historic auction not only secures the country’s near-term energy needs but also locks in nearly 7GW of renewable capacity to underpin national electricity supply over the next decade,” said Edwin Palma, Colombian Minister of Mines and Energy. He noted that the core task for the incoming government will be advancing these awarded projects to operational status, to deliver stable firm energy for residential households, industrial operations and national economic development.

Minister Palma highlighted the strong market enthusiasm for BESS, with auction participants expressing interest in over 14,500MWh/day of battery storage contracting. The robust market demand demonstrates an urgent need for Colombia to roll out more energy storage tenders, accelerate BESS project development, and further improve the flexibility and stability of the national electricity system.