Colombia continues to strengthen its energy transition process and now ranks as the fourth country in South America with the highest participation of renewable energy in its installed capacity. According to figures released by the Mining and Energy Planning Unit (UPME) and the Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), more than 70% of the country’s installed electricity matrix currently comes from clean sources such as hydroelectric, solar, and wind energy.
This progress places Colombia behind Paraguay, Brazil, and Uruguay in the regional ranking of nations with the highest integration of renewable energy. For the government and energy sector organizations, the growth reflects the acceleration of strategic projects developed in recent years and the increase in investments focused on sustainable technologies.
One of the most notable findings in the report is the growth of solar energy in the country. While Colombia had barely 200 megawatts (MW) of installed solar capacity in 2018, by 2025 the figure had surpassed 4,000 MW, making it one of the fastest-growing energy sectors in Latin America.
In addition, 2025 marked a historic milestone for Colombia’s electrical system: for the first time, solar power generation surpassed coal-based generation. According to official figures, solar energy produced 4,473 gigawatt-hours (GWh), while coal generated 3,564 GWh.
Colombia with greater participation in the use of renewable energy
Although Colombia has historically depended mainly on hydroelectric generation, the rapid growth of solar and wind projects has allowed the country to diversify its national energy matrix and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Currently, Colombia has more than 4,200 MW of installed renewable energy capacity. Of that amount, around 2,876 MW correspond to medium- and large-scale projects already in operation or in testing phases. Added to this are more than 1,300 MW from self-generation and distributed generation systems, including solar rooftops installed in homes, businesses, and companies.
Authorities estimate that this energy capacity would be enough to supply electricity to Bogotá and its metropolitan area, a region with more than 10 million inhabitants.
Among the projects considered key to the country’s energy future is the Colectora Project, a transmission infrastructure located in Colombia’s Caribbean region that will allow energy generated from solar and wind farms to be transported to the center of the country.
In addition, Colombia is advancing the construction of new transmission networks known as “clean energy highways,” designed to integrate renewable sources into the national interconnected system.
Environmental impact and future challenges
The growth of renewable energy has also had significant environmental effects. According to official reports, the energy transition has helped prevent millions of tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂eq) emissions.
Figures indicate that the country managed to reduce nearly 7 million tons of polluting emissions, an impact comparable to removing more than 1.6 million gasoline-powered vehicles from circulation for one year.
Additionally, more than 23,000 solar rooftops have been installed in Colombian homes and businesses, demonstrating greater citizen participation in the country’s energy transformation.
However, important challenges still remain to consolidate this process. These include obtaining environmental permits, securing financial closure for some projects, and expanding transmission networks to connect new generation plants.
Despite these challenges, projections indicate that Colombia could add between 6,000 and 9,000 MW of additional renewable energy over the next five years, with investments close to US$5 billion.