Colombia is pursuing more BESS projects and has put a new measure on the table: Is it possible to reach 1.5 GW by 2030?

Colombia is seeking to accelerate the adoption of battery storage systems in response to the risks associated with El Niño , in a year also marked by new hybrid project awards, regulatory advancements, and measures to facilitate their installation. Meanwhile, the photovoltaic industry warns that uncertainties remain that could affect growth expectations through 2030.

It's worth recalling that in July, the country awarded contracts for approximately 100 MW of storage capacity associated with 270 MW of solar generation , within an auction that allocated contracts for a total of 995 MW of photovoltaic capacity. In addition, the government estimates a potential of 1,324 MWh of battery storage capacity by June 2027 , the realization of which will depend on the development of the projects.

Under this scenario, Luis Contreras , Sales Manager Utility at Yingli Solar , identified the integration of photovoltaic energy with BESS as one of the main bets of the sector for the coming years.

“The next step, driven by national needs and to manage energy demand more effectively, will be through solar power, combined with energy storage,” the executive stated during the Future Energy Summit (FES) Colombia 2026 , noting that this combination will allow for better management of energy supply in the face of growing consumption.

When asked about how much storage Colombia could add by 2030, Contreras acknowledged that making a forecast is complex due to outstanding issues.

Even so, he ventured to suggest: “1 GW would be fantastic... 1.5 GW, I would also dare to say,” he estimated, although he immediately qualified: “I think there is perhaps a little more expectation than reality.”

The warning was linked to uncertainty about the conditions necessary to develop BESS on a large scale. “We are talking about terms and concepts that are still undiscussed,” he said.

This proposal comes at a time when the photovoltaic expansion has a considerably longer track record than the battery business. According to the Mining and Energy Planning Unit (UPME), as of January 2026, the country had 3,717.1 MW of solar generation capacity in operation or testing phase , while large-scale storage is still in its early stages of development.

From the first awards to a new storage portfolio

One of the year's major developments was the clean energy auction held in July, which awarded approximately 270 MW of solar capacity, along with nearly 100 MW of battery storage, on its first day. The second day added another 725 MW of photovoltaic capacity through long-term power purchase agreements.

Among the awardees with BESS components are Celsia, through the Valledupar Solar Park, and Bosques Solares de los Llanos, with its Bosques Solares de los Llanos 8 project.

These allocations represent a commercial advance for the technology, although the projects still need to complete the necessary stages to be incorporated into the electrical system.

“The auctions that have recently appeared on the market are a market signal, and they have caught our attention and made us approach them with caution,” Contreras said.

The executive explained that the magnitude of the utility-scale projects makes it difficult to anticipate what share each supplier will be able to obtain.

“When we talk about utility projects it’s all or nothing, either a competitor gets it or you get it, there’s no other way,” he added.

In that scenario, he considered that Yingli could compete for several hundred MW , although without identifying specific projects or confirming supply commitments.

In parallel with the awards, the Colombian government made progress in updating the regulatory framework to facilitate the integration of batteries.

On June 19, the Energy and Gas Regulatory Commission (CREG) approved Resolution 101 113 of 2026 , which established mechanisms to incorporate storage systems into the National Interconnected System.

The regulations contemplate different technological configurations and conditions for their participation, both through independent facilities and those associated with generation plants.

However, the approval of a general regulatory framework does not imply that all the technical, operational and commercial conditions for developing new projects are completely resolved.

New measures to boost batteries

As part of the actions promoted during 2026, the Government also advanced initiatives aimed at streamlining the connection and installation of new energy infrastructure.

In May, UPME announced a proposal to free up 6.3 GW of connection capacity , through modifications to the transport capacity allocation guidelines that seek to prioritize projects with execution possibilities and facilitate the entry of new generation and storage.

More recently, on October 21 , the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development announced that it is preparing a draft resolution to simplify certain environmental procedures associated with the installation of batteries in power generation plants and transmission projects.

The initiative is part of the measures aimed at strengthening energy security in the face of scenarios of higher demand and climate variability, including the possible effects of the El Niño phenomenon.

The proposal would allow certain installation, replacement, relocation, repowering and adaptation activities of BESS systems to be considered minor changes, without the need to modify existing environmental licenses, provided that they are carried out within previously authorized areas and comply with the established conditions.

The project still needs to go through a public consultation process before its eventual adoption.

In that context, the Ministry estimates that generation projects with non-conventional sources could contribute around 1324 MWh of storage by June 2027 , although this is a potential capacity and not facilities whose commissioning is guaranteed.

The figure is also not directly comparable with the 100 MW of batteries awarded in July, since the former expresses energy capacity and the latter power.

While environmental measures aim to simplify installation procedures, the development of storage also depends on the economic, technical, and regulatory conditions that allow its commercial operation to be sustained.

Yingli identifies solar opportunities in two segments

In addition to its perspectives on storage, Contreras noted that the company is focusing its commercial strategy on two segments of the Colombian photovoltaic market.

The first corresponds to utility-scale projects greater than 50 MW, with power plants that can reach capacities of 200, 300 or 350 MW .

The second comprises installations of between 5 and 50 MW, mainly linked to large self-consumers, distributed generation and private power purchase agreements (PPAs).

“We see, above all, distributed generation from large self-consumers, private PPAs, and other types of plants in a somewhat smaller segment,” he explained.

This differentiation allows us to identify two business opportunities for manufacturers: large generation projects aimed at the electricity market and facilities aimed at meeting specific consumer needs through private agreements.

For Yingli, both segments are part of the growth alternatives in Colombia, while battery integration appears as an additional opportunity linked to the future needs of the electrical system.