OVERVIEW

The Scaling Up Renewable Energy Activity (SURE) works with the Government of Colombia (GOC) to diversify energy generation.  SURE helps create competitive energy markets and reduce energy costs by developing transparent power procurement policies.  The Activity also builds institutional capacities to integrate renewable energy into the power grid and promotes private sector engagement to produce affordable, renewable electricity. SURE runs from April 2018 – December 2021.

COMPONENTS

INCREASING ACCESS TO COST EFFECTIVE ENERGY

SURE supports renewable energy resource integration into Colombia’s electric grid.  The Activity also assists the GOC’s transition to a more resilient, competitive and cost-effective power system. 

CREATING A COMPETITIVE ENERGY MARKET

SURE uses falling renewable energy costs and resilience to extreme weather events to encourage the GOC and private sector actors to invest in renewable energy technologies. 

FOSTERING INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE

SURE helps the GOC implement public policies and regulations that build energy distributors’ technical capacities to produce and distribute renewable energy. SURE also helps public and private sector energy entities learn how to plan, operate and integrate renewable energy sources.

STRENGTHENING LOCAL CAPACITIES

SURE improves the Colombian energy sector’s knowledge of renewable energy management through training initiatives.  SURE also supports the GOC’s development of efficient regulatory models to integrate renewable energy and provides renewable energy job training to indigenous communities in northern Colombia.

RESULTS

• Helped create the Young Energy Leaders Capacity Building Program;
• Provided renewable energy training to 65 professionals nominated by Colombia’s energy sector, 68% of which were women;
• Helped the GOC hold its second renewable energy auction which resulted in the GOC awarding 15-year power purchase agreements to nine new solar and wind projects;
• Assisted Colombia’s new competitive procurement process resulting in historically low average energy prices of approximately USD $28 per megawatt hour (MWh);
• Supported USAID/Colombia’s Paramos and Forests program in the evaluation and design of renewable energy and communication systems for remote forest communities;
• Provided technical assistance to electricity distributors, project developers and the financial sector to promote their participation in the renewable energy auctions; 
• Helped the GOC develop renewable energy generation and distribution regulations which permitted rooftop solar panel owners to sell their excess energy to the power grid;
• Partnered with the GOC to develop a large renewable energy battery storage system proposal for the Colombian Caribbean’s power grid; and
• Assisted the Colombian national electricity market operator in planning, operating and integrating non- conventional renewable energy resources in the national energy market.