Colombia’s energy map just got a bright new dot. In the hills of Norte de Santander, Petalo del Norte I switched on, bringing clean electricity, foreign investment, and a very concrete sign that the energy transition is not just a slogan.
This solar park is not just another group of panels in the countryside. It is the first project in Colombia that fully meets strict international environmental and social standards, and it brings together European climate funds with local engineering experience.
A solar milestone in La Esperanza
Petalo del Norte I sits in La Esperanza, a municipality that now carries a name matching the project’s purpose: Hope for a different energy future. The park is already in commercial operation and is part of a broader regional solar push.
The project belongs to Climate Fund Managers, through its Climate Investor One platform, and is the fund’s first asset in commercial operation in Latin America. For Colombia, this means that international players are willing to back long-term clean energy assets.
According to the report, Petalo del Norte I is also the largest project that Erco Energia has developed so far. Andina Solar handled project management and administration, coordinating timelines, permits, and on-the-ground work.
How much energy it brings, and why it matters
On the technical side, the plant has 19.9 MW of installed capacity and is expected to generate more than 43 GWh of electricity annually That is roughly enough to meet the needs of over 32,000 people in the region.
By replacing fossil-based generation, the park can avoid around 13,000 tons of CO₂ emissions annually. In a country where hydropower still dominates, solar projects like this help spread the risk across more sources.
Diversifying the energy mix matters when droughts hit hydroelectric reservoirs. Solar plants in high-radiation regions, such as the northeast of Colombia, offer extra stability, especially during dry seasons that can stress the traditional system.
Projects such as Petalo del Norte I also support national climate goals. Colombia has pledged to cut emissions and grow renewables as part of its international commitments, and each utility-scale plant makes those targets a little less abstract.
Who pays for it, and how blended finance works
Climate Fund Managers acts as an investor using a blended finance model. In simple terms, this model combines public or concessional funds with private capital to reduce risk and unlock more money for green infrastructure.
European Union institutions play a key role here. European Union funds and other European partners provide part of the capital, which helps absorb early or higher risks, and this, in turn, encourages private investors to join projects they might otherwise consider too risky.
EU cooperation officials quoted in the piece say this approach fits the Global Gateway agenda, a strategy to support sustainable investments in partner countries. Solar projects in Colombia are an example of how that agenda lands on real ground.
Local partners complete the picture. Erco Energia acts as developer and contractor, Andina Solar manages the project, and other Colombian and international allies support implementation, which keeps technical know-how and jobs inside the country.
Jobs, community programs, and long-term impact
During construction, the project created 270 direct jobs, with 64% of those positions filled by local workers and around 30% occupied by women. For a rural municipality, those months of work represent income, training, and new skills.
The social impact does not stop with the ribbon-cutting. Petalo del Norte I includes a US$125,000 community development program that reaches about 2,400 people in nearby villages such as La Pedregosa, La Fragua, La Raya, and Palmichal.
This fund backs sports activities, small pieces of infrastructure, leadership training, gender equity initiatives, and rural entrepreneurship projects. All of that helps strengthen the social fabric and links residents more closely to the project’s success.
A brighter horizon for Colombia’s grid
Petalo del Norte I shows that Colombia’s energy transition is not only a future plan, it is already taking shape in specific territories. One rural municipality now hosts a project that meets global standards, brings in climate finance, and creates local opportunities.
If similar alliances keep forming, combining international funds with local talent, Colombia can build a cleaner, more resilient grid while supporting jobs and community projects. The panels in La Esperanza might be just the first chapter.