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Colombia awards licenses in solar-dominated electricity auction

Colombia's government has awarded brand-new licenses for electricity producing jobs, to boost capacity by 4,489 megawatts in 2027 and 2028, the Ministry of Mines and Energy stated on Friday.

The auction appointed 99% of the new capacity to solar plants, the ministry said in a declaration, while the remaining 1%. went to thermal biomass plants, fixing a gas plant, building. a biomass plant and broadening a smaller bio-gas plant.

The closing price of the auction was $18.20 per megawatt. hour, the ministry added. It did not reveal the names of the. business granted licenses.

With this auction, as of Dec. 1, 2027, the extra. efficient net capacity of the electrical system is expected be. 4,489 MW, of which 48 MW are thermal and 4,441 MW are solar,. the ministry stated.

Solar energy will surpass thermal in Colombia's energy. matrix as a result of the auction, representing 26% of the. country's electrical power, the ministry stated. Hydroelecticity's. place in the matrix will fall from 66% to 50%, it included.

With these results, and with projects that are on the method. with firm energy commitments, our energy matrix in net efficient. capacity for the (grid) will go from 20 GW to 26 GW, Minister. of Mines and Energy Andres Camacho stated in a message on X,. formerly Twitter.

Colombia will now prepare an auction exclusively for. renewable resource jobs, Camacho added.

The federal government of leftist President Gustavo Petro is pressing. for Colombia to stop being so dependent on fossil fuels,. specifically oil and coal, which are significant exports and sources of. income for the nation.

Many wind and solar power projects have suffered problems. due to resistance from neighborhoods and objections from some. ecological authorities.

In early December, Colombia launched its first bidding round. for overseas wind concessions.

(source: Reuters)