AES Andes inaugurates Colombia's largest and most innovative solar park

This AES Andes statement was translated from Spanish by an automated system

In a new step in its Greentegra transformational strategy, AES Andes inaugurated and put into operation as of this Friday, October 22, the San Fernando Solar Park in Colombia, becoming the largest and most modern photovoltaic project in this country.

Located in the municipality of Castilla La Nueva, in the department of Meta, the new solar complex has 61 MW of installed capacity and will supply part of the energy required by the operations of Ecopetrol and Cenit in the Eastern Plains.

The park was built on 57 hectares, where AES Colombia -a subsidiary of AES Andes- installed 114 thousand bifacial monocrystalline silicon solar panels of 530 Wp, which have bifacial technology, which allows them to capture sunlight on both sides of the panels , obtaining the highest efficiency and the highest possible plant factor. Additionally, the park has sun tracking technology, allowing the rays to impact the photovoltaic modules perpendicularly at all times and thus the best possible use.

This sun tracking technology and bifacial panels is the first to be installed in the country, which makes San Fernando Solar the most innovative in this generation source in Colombia.

The installed capacity would be equivalent to the consumption of 93,000 thousand homes and its renewable generation will avoid the emission into the atmosphere of more than 508 thousand equivalent tons of CO2 (carbon dioxide) during the 15 years of validity of the contract between CENIT and AES Colombia, equivalent to the planting of more than 3.9 million trees.

“The construction of the San Fernando Solar Park is a milestone that confirms our commitment to accelerate a more sustainable energy future, both in Colombia and in the markets in which we operate. We are very proud to continue accompanying the Ecopetrol Group in the development of its strategy to transform the energy matrix. With this project we continue to confirm our confidence and the great potential that we see in the Colombian market ”, said Julián Nebreda, President of AES Sudamérica and AES Andes.

As part of AES Colombia's commitment to its sustainable operation, the construction of the San Fernando Solar Park had more than 700 people, of which 88% were local and regional, and more than $ 15,000 million were invested in local goods and services. in the municipality of Castilla La Nueva and the department of Meta. In addition, 38% of the park's workforce were women, which is equivalent to more than 270 employees who were part of the different construction areas of the project. It is also important to note that the park was built in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, complying with all biosafety protocols and with zero disabling accidents in it.

For the CEO of AES Andes, Ricardo Falú, “the entry into operation of this project confirms our commitment to advance in the development of renewable energies together with our commercial partners. We are very happy to accompany Ecopetrol in its transformation towards sustainable, innovative and competitive solutions ”.

He added that for AES Andes, "this initiative is a faithful reflection of the progress of our Greentegra transformational strategy, which seeks to reduce the carbon intensity of our portfolio, make the supply of our clients more sustainable and strengthen the company's investment grade" .

Greentegra

This important step is part of the Greentegra strategy carried out by AES Andes since May 2018 and which aims to accelerate a safer and more sustainable energy future. Since then, the company has signed contracts for renewable sources for 10.5 TWh per year, while, in terms of capacity, it has added 221 MW of renewable generation and batteries to its portfolio and currently has 1,133 MW under construction. Thus, by 2025 it will have tripled its installed capacity for renewable energy and batteries, adding a total of 2.4 GW to its portfolio.

In addition, the firm is contributing to the sustainable reactivation with investments close to US $ 3,000 million, which will generate more than 7 thousand direct jobs in the markets in which it is present.