EPM inaugurates Tepuy photovoltaic solar park

This press release from Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM) was translated from Spanish by an automated system

In development of its strategy to contribute to the country's energy transition, through the generation of energy with non-conventional renewable sources, EPM delivered the Tepuy photovoltaic solar park, located in the municipality of La Dorada, department of Caldas, into commercial operation.

John Maya Salazar, general manager of EPM, indicated that “Tepuy is our first large-scale photovoltaic solar park. With its 83 megawatts (MW) of nominal power, which are enough to supply a city of approximately 400 thousand inhabitants, we are increasing the energy generation capacity in Colombia and joining the efforts of the electricity sector to reduce the system's vulnerabilities. in the face of climate variability phenomena, such as the one the country has just faced, and guarantee the reliability and continuity of the service in the coming years.”

In the development of the project, the commitments established in the environmental license, granted by the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Caldas (Corpocaldas), were met. “At the highest peak of construction, around 1,800 jobs were generated, 52% of them with people from the area of influence of the park, prioritizing the hiring of residents of the Guarinocito district, the Purnio and Santa Helena villages and the urban area of La Golden,” highlighted the general manager of EPM.

This is Tepuy

EPM's Tepuy photovoltaic solar park was built near the Santa Helena village, in the municipality of La Dorada, on a 320-hectare property belonging to the old Guadalupe hacienda, located on the road that leads from La Dorada to the municipality of Honda. , in the department of Tolima. The works and equipment are distributed over an area of 220.39 hectares, which is equivalent to approximately 267 soccer fields. Also, 60 hectares were designated as an area for environmental protection and conservation.

Responsible social and environmental management

Within the comprehensive environmental education and capacity-building strategy, developed jointly by the project team and the EPM Foundation, more than 700 people were trained by holding 45 training meetings on business plan topics, entrepreneurship and leadership, workshops, pedagogical and experiential activities with different interest groups.

On the other hand, in close collaboration with the Caldas regional SENA, a comprehensive training and capacity-building process was carried out that allowed more than 300 people from the community to be prepared in the installation of panels, trackers and electromechanical equipment of the project, thus generating meaningful employment opportunities for them.

Regarding wildlife management, during the construction of the park there was a team of biologists and veterinary doctors, as well as a transit home equipped with all the elements and equipment to guarantee the survival of the individuals. In this work, 1,669 specimens including amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds and fish were rescued, which were relocated to Cerro El Trueno, a site in the project reserve area that offers ideal ecological conditions for them to survive.

As for the closed flora species, there is a relocation area with 874 rescued individuals from the bromeliaceae and orchidaceae families, which are continuously tracked and monitored to verify their status and protection, with a survival percentage. of 97%.

Tepuy in figures

• The Tepuy photovoltaic solar park has 199,534 bifacial photovoltaic panels, with capacities of 540-545 watts peak or maximum working power (Wp), with an average size of 1 meter by 2.30 meters.
• The panels are installed on 2,290 solar trackers and were connected to 320 inverters. They are distributed in 16 transformation centers and grouped into 5 circuits.
• The useful life of the Tepuy solar park is estimated at 35 years. The works had an approximate cost of 397 billion pesos, with a percentage financed through the French Development Agency (AFD).

For the people
Comprehensive solar solutions for all needs

Committed to sustainability, EPM has developed solutions to meet the needs of clients and users, providing them with the energy necessary to carry out their daily activities and commercial and industrial processes. This is reflected today in more than 700 solar installations distributed in 20 departments of Colombia, among homes, companies and large consumers.

To date, there are more than 46 megawatt-peak (MWp) sold and more than 86 thousand solar panels that will prevent the emission of nearly 10 thousand tons of carbon dioxide per year and are equivalent to the planting of more than 532 thousand trees and the energy consumption of more than 31,500 homes.

With Tepuy, EPM contributes to the country's energy transition, the development of the territories and expands the energy supply to add to the quality of life of all Colombians.