Beatrice Lang
Colombia's electricity sector is dominated by large hydropower generation (65%) and thermal generation (35%). The country has a liberalized energy market with an unbundled generation, transmission, distribution, and commercialization framework. The standard voltage in Colombia is 110 V at a frequency of 60 Hz, and power plugs and sockets are of type A and B. If you're travelling to Colombia, you may need a power adapter or converter depending on the voltage and type of your device.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Electricity supply | National Interconnected System (SIN) and Non-Interconnected Zones (ZNI) |
| SIN coverage | One-third of the territory, 96% of the population |
| ZNI coverage | Two-thirds of the territory, 4% of the population |
| SIN electricity sources | 32 large hydroelectric plants, 30 thermal power stations |
| ZNI electricity sources | Small diesel generators |
| Installed net effective capacity (June 2015) | 15.5 Gigawatt (GW) |
| Generation share by source | Large hydropower (65%), thermal generation (35%) |
| Electricity coverage | 93% in urban areas, 55% in rural areas |
| People without access to electricity | 2.3 million |
| Plug types | A and B |
| Voltage | 110V |
| Frequency | 60Hz |
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What You'll Learn
- Colombia's electricity sector is dominated by hydropower and thermal generation
- The country has a liberalised energy market with an unbundled framework
- Colombia's standard voltage is 110V, requiring a travel adapter for US/UK devices
- The country has plans to transition to renewable energy sources like wind and solar
- Colombia's electricity coverage is higher in urban areas than in rural areas
Colombia's electricity sector is dominated by hydropower and thermal generation
The electricity sector in Colombia is dominated by hydropower and thermal generation. Hydropower is the predominant low-carbon energy source in Colombia, contributing to more than half of the electricity mix, while thermal generation accounts for about 35% of the overall mix.
The country has a long history of hydropower development, dating back to 1928 when the government declared the exploitation of hydroelectric power to be of public interest. The sector is characterized by large hydropower generation, with 32 large hydroelectric plants feeding electricity into the National Interconnected System (SIN). However, the dominance of hydropower has decreased over the years due to droughts and the lack of multi-year storage capacity. As a result, the country has increased its investment in thermal generation, which now accounts for a significant share of the energy mix.
Despite the progress made in the electricity sector, there are still concerns about losses in transmission and leaks. In 2005, distribution losses in Colombia were higher than the average in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). To address these challenges, the Colombian government has implemented various reforms and policies. The sector was liberalized in 1995, and the structure of the energy market is based on the Public Services Law and the Electricity Law of 1994, which promote private participation and a competitive market.
Colombia has also been exploring renewable energy options to diversify its energy mix. The country has significant potential for wind, solar, and biomass energy, and the government has published a roadmap for offshore wind development as part of its plan to move away from hydropower and fossil fuels. In addition, the government is working on the Just Energy Transition roadmap, which will focus on electric power generation at the community level, including rural communities.
The outlook for the Colombian electricity sector is promising, with several new power generation projects underway to accommodate growing demand. The country is also developing a regulatory framework to promote new technologies such as geothermal, hydrogen, and offshore wind. However, it is important to note that the sector is highly dependent on climatic conditions for hydropower generation, and there is a need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, which currently account for about 36% of the overall energy mix.
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The country has a liberalised energy market with an unbundled framework
Colombia's electricity sector has been dominated by large hydropower generation (65%) and thermal generation (35%). However, the country has made significant strides towards diversifying its energy mix and transitioning to renewable sources. In 2014, Colombia began making substantial reforms to its legal framework, marking the beginning of its energy transition. This shift gained momentum with the Renewable Energy Law 1715, which offered an attractive fiscal framework for investment in non-conventional energy sources, including green and blue hydrogen.
Colombia has had a liberalised energy market with an unbundled framework since 1995. The sector is structured around unbundled generation, transmission, distribution, and commercialisation. With 66 registered electricity producers, private companies own 60% of the installed generation capacity. Transmission is handled by seven public companies, while distribution and commercialisation are managed by over 60 public and private companies.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy leads the country's energy sector, with the Unit for Mining and Energy Planning (UPME) responsible for future energy planning and the National Energy Plan. The Regulatory Commission for Gas and Energy (CREG) regulates the market for efficient energy supply. The legislative foundation for Colombia's electricity market was laid in the early 1990s to encourage private investment in power generation and transportation, addressing issues of politicisation and energy insecurity.
Colombia's electricity market operates under a centralised, single-node system based on the marginal price merit principle, applying uniformly to all generation sources. The market structure initially favoured legacy generation, but efforts have been made to integrate renewable energy sources into this framework. The country is also working on a regulatory framework to promote new technologies, including geothermal, hydrogen, and offshore wind.
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Colombia's standard voltage is 110V, requiring a travel adapter for US/UK devices
If you're travelling to Colombia from the US or UK, you will need to bring a travel adapter to plug your devices into Colombian power outlets. Colombia's standard voltage is 110V, which is the same voltage used in the US, so your US devices should be compatible without a voltage converter. However, UK devices may require a converter as they often operate at 220-240V.
Colombia uses power sockets (outlets) of type A and B, which have two flat parallel pins. Type B sockets also have a grounding pin. These are the same types of sockets used in the US, so US travellers will not need a plug adapter. However, UK travellers will need an adapter for these sockets.
It is important to note that travel adapters only change the shape of the plug and do not convert voltage. If you are bringing devices that are not compatible with Colombia's 110V voltage, you will need to bring a voltage converter or transformer. Using an incompatible device without a converter can be extremely dangerous and may result in an electrical fire, a blown fuse, or damage to your device.
To prepare for potential power blackouts or limited access to electricity in some areas of Colombia, it is recommended to bring a power bank to keep your devices charged. A USB travel power adapter is also suggested, as it allows you to charge multiple devices with a single charger.
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The country has plans to transition to renewable energy sources like wind and solar
Colombia's electricity sector is dominated by large hydropower generation (65-68%) and thermal generation (35%). The country has a standard voltage of 110V and a frequency of 60Hz. While Colombia has long relied on hydropower, it has significant wind and solar resources that remain untapped.
The country has set ambitious targets for diversifying its energy mix by incorporating renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and geothermal resources. Colombia's robust National Energy Plan, extending to 2050, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. To achieve these goals, Colombia has invested significantly in renewable energy infrastructure, particularly through long-term auctions for large-scale solar and wind projects.
The country's first renewable energy auction in 2019 awarded over 1 GW of wind power, and by 2022, a total of nine wind and 16 solar large-scale projects had been awarded, worth around USD 3.1 billion. These projects aim to contribute to the country's goal of generating 2.5 GW of solar, wind, and biomass energy. Colombia's wind potential alone could cover the country's current total energy needs, and its location in the equatorial zone provides significant solar power resources.
In addition to wind and solar, Colombia has also explored geothermal power potential and has significant biomass power potential from agricultural residues, such as banana, coffee pulp, and animal waste. The country has also published a roadmap for offshore wind development, with a capacity forecast of 1 GW by 2030 and 3 GW by 2040. The Ministry of Mines and Energy is preparing an auction for offshore wind concessions, with bidding scheduled to begin in the second half of 2023.
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Colombia's electricity coverage is higher in urban areas than in rural areas
The electricity sector in Colombia is dominated by large hydropower generation (contributing 65% of the country's electricity) and thermal generation (35%). The country has 32 large hydroelectric plants and 30 thermal power stations that feed electricity into the National Interconnected System (SIN), which covers one-third of the territory and gives coverage to 96% of the population. The remaining two-thirds of the territory are covered by several isolated local systems in the Non-Interconnected Zones (ZNI), which only serve 4% of the population.
Despite the country's potential for new renewable energy technologies such as wind, solar, and biomass, these sources have barely been tapped. A 2001 law designed to promote alternative energies has had little impact, and large hydropower and thermal plants continue to dominate expansion plans.
In 2005, the interconnected electricity system in Colombia served 87% of the population, which is below the 95% average for Latin America and the Caribbean. There is a significant disparity in electricity coverage between urban and rural areas in Colombia, with 93% of urban areas and only 55% of rural areas having access to electricity. This disparity is due to several factors, including the challenging conditions for electrification in zones outside the interconnected system and the inadequacies of the subsidy system.
The Colombian electricity sector has a system of cross-subsidies, where users in affluent areas and those consuming higher amounts of electricity subsidize users in poorer areas and those who use less electricity. However, the subsidy stratification system has been ineffective at targeting the poor, with 50-60% of subsidy beneficiaries coming from the top half of the income distribution. Additionally, the high cost of diesel in remote areas due to transport costs further contributes to the inequality in electricity coverage.
To address the disparity in electricity coverage, the Colombian government has established several funds and programs to support rural electrification. By the end of 2006, the Ministry of Mines and Energy had approved a total of US$23.3 million in rural electrification funds to benefit 14,965 families. The government has also set targets to reduce poverty and inequality, including a goal to reduce the incidence of poverty from 26.9% in 2019 to 18.7% by 2030.
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Frequently asked questions
In Colombia, they use power sockets of type A and B, similar to the United States. Type A has two flat parallel pins, while Type B has an additional grounding pin.
The standard voltage in Colombia is 110V, and the frequency is 60Hz. This is similar to the voltage in the United States (120V) and Canada (110-120V).
If you are travelling to Colombia from the United States, you typically won't need a power adapter or converter for most devices. However, if you have devices that require a different voltage, such as 220V or 240V, you will need a step-up power converter.
The electricity sector in Colombia is dominated by hydropower generation (around 65-68%) and thermal generation (around 31-35%). The country has been focusing on renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and hydropower, with plans to reduce dependence on hydropower and fossil fuels.
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