Ecopetrol seeking market intelligence for renewables expansion

Colombian state-run oil company Ecopetrol has called for energy stakeholders to participate in a market intelligence study of existing renewable generation projects. 

The initiative seeks to provide an analysis of installed capacity, land rights, financing, permitting processes and work timetables for projects in Colombian territory. 

Interested participants have until January 29 to present information. Further details can be seen here, in Spanish.

In documents published on its contracting portal, Ecopetrol said the study formed part of wider plans to be a "pioneer" in Colombia's clean energy transformation. 

The Bogotá-based firm had 472MW of installed renewable energy capacity under construction or in operation at the end of 2023, up from 208MW a year earlier.  

It aims to boast 900MW of capacity in operation by 2025 and 1,000MW by 2030, according to the documents. All of the projects are currently designed for self-generation purposes only.

Ecopetrol is currently precluded from generating electricity on a commercial scale because of its controlling stake in power transmission company Isa.

The government is seeking to push through a bill that would overturn the existing law, which is designed to prevent companies from holding dominant positions throughout the electric power value chain.