- Colombia unveils decisions concerning offshore wind project
- Colombia could have 1GW of offshore wind farms by 2030
- Colombia’s offshore wind potential is expected to reach 50GW
Colombia’s government unveiled the final edition of its offshore wind road plan, announcing that the country is set to run its first offshore wind lease competition.
The legislation that would outline the competition was set to be released for public comment on Tuesday, with the government of President Ivan Duque intending to start the process before the end of his term this summer. According to the government, the ministry of mining and energy and Colombia’s national maritime regulator DIMAR will lead the competitive process.
With funding from the World Bank, the Renewables Consulting Group finished the public consultation process for Colombia’s offshore wind road map in February of this year. Many of the goals, problems, and benefits mentioned in the draft are repeated in the final form. Colombia’s offshore wind potential is expected to reach 50GW, and the country has offshore wind turbine-planting zones of 12,200 square kilometres (4,710 square miles).
In a high scenario, which sees the government as willing to steer the development, Colombia could have 1GW of offshore wind farms by 2030, 3GW by 2040, and up to 9GW by 2050. According to the road map, offshore wind development in Colombia could bring USD 27 billion (EUR 25.6bn) investments by 2050.
Plans for Colombia’s first offshore wind farm were announced in March this year when the mayor of Barranquilla signed a memorandum of understanding with Denmark’s Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) to cooperate on a 350MW development.