The Mining and Energy Planning Unit (UPME) has made available to the market the technical information that will define one of the most relevant variables for the development of new generation projects in Colombia: the transmission capacity available at substations of the National Interconnected System (SIN). The agency published the preliminary results of the busbar capacity calculation and confirmed that the application period for projects with completed environmental permitting will open on June 11.
The measure represents a direct signal to developers, who will now be able to identify the conditions under which future connection requests will be evaluated and know where there is available space within the network to incorporate new generation capacity.
Days before publishing the available capacity results, UPME updated the generation and demand scenarios that will serve as the basis for evaluating connection requests and allocating transmission capacity. This information is available for consultation through the Single Window system and includes electricity dispatch scenarios, demand projections, expansion projects considered in the simulations, and standardized load profiles used by the agency for its analyses.
The elements incorporated include electricity demand projections for the period 2025-2039, generation and transmission projects considered with information updated to May 5, 2026, and the works planned within the 2025-2039 Expansion Plan. In this way, developers will be able to model their initiatives using the same technical criteria employed by UPME during the evaluation process.
According to the entity, the update aims to ensure consistency between the studies conducted by investors and the official analyses of connectivity and transport capacity allocation. Furthermore, the standardized load profiles were constructed based on historical demand data published by XM during 2025, allowing for a more accurate representation of the system's performance.
With these inputs already defined, UPME moved forward with the publication of the preliminary report of available capacity per substation, prepared under the transitional mechanism established by CREG Resolution 101 094 of 2025 for projects with completed environmental procedures.
The methodology used to calculate bus capacity incorporates representative scenarios of actual energy dispatch and its balance with demand, with the aim of obtaining results more consistent with the expected operating conditions of the system. The report also does not currently include certain urgent works associated with short-circuit restrictions, which may be reflected in future updates once the corresponding regulatory processes are completed.
A key piece of information amidst the new renewable energy auction
The publication of the available capacity coincides with one of the busiest periods for the Colombian electricity market. The Ministry of Mines and Energy is currently moving forward with the new long-term contract auction for renewable energy projects and battery energy storage systems (BESS), with the awards scheduled for July 23 and 24.
In this scenario, the availability of transmission capacity becomes a strategic variable for developers seeking to move forward with new generation projects. The ability to identify points with available capacity within the National Interconnected System (SIN) reduces technical uncertainty and facilitates the structuring of initiatives that aspire to participate in future contracting mechanisms.
Therefore, the publication by UPME is seen by the sector as a relevant signal to unlock investments and accelerate the incorporation of new generation capacity into the Colombian electricity system, at a time when the country seeks to strengthen the reliability of the grid and accompany the growth of demand with new renewable and storage projects.