How has drought affected Colombia's power supply?

BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — Colombia’s government on Tuesday rolled out new incentives to reduce electricity consumption in the South American nation, which has been hit by a severe drought that has diminished the capacity of local hydroelectric plants and brought officials close to imposing power cuts.

How much electricity does Colombia produce?

Colombia’s installed electric power generation capacity currently stands at 17,771 MW, with hydro accounting for 68 percent, gas and coal-fired power plants accounting for 31 percent, and the remaining one percent from wind and solar units. The country’s energy matrix is clean but highly dependent on climatic conditions to generate hydro power.

What is Colombia's energy transition process?

Colombia’s energy transition process is underway. Former President Ivan Duque set a goal to increase non-conventional renewable energy installed capacity from one percent to more than 12 percent of the energy matrix by 2022.

How much hydrogen will Colombia produce in 2021?

In 2021, Colombia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy presented its Hydrogen Roadmap. Its stated goals were to reach between 1 and 3GW of electrolysis capacity in 2030 and produce 50 kilotonnes of blue hydrogen from new methane steam reforming plants and the capture and storage of carbon in existing facilities.

Is the dry season threatening Colombia's water supply?

The dry season, which began at the end of last year, has also threatened supplies of tap water. Officials in Colombia’s capital, Bogotá, began rationing water last week by dividing the city into nine districts that are being cut off from the water supply for 24 hours, on a rotating basis.

Will Colombia build a hydrogen value chain?

With abundant natural gas reserves and the largest coal producer in Latin America, Colombia is focusing on blue hydrogen production as a base from which to start building the hydrogen value chain. In 2022, Colombia published its roadmap for offshore wind development, part of a broader plan to wean the country off hydropower and fossil fuels.