The Energy Transition in Colombia

Germany and Colombia have long been linked through energy trade relations and cooperate closely in the implementation of energy transition projects. In the 200th Wuppertal Paper entitled "The Energy Transition in Colombia", Johannes Thema, Senior Researcher in the Energy Policy Research Unit at the Wuppertal Institute, and María Cecilia Roa García, Assistant Professor at the Colombian Universidad de los Andes, take a close look at energy transition approaches in both countries. The focus is on analysing options for the complete decarbonisation of the energy system in Colombia.

To achieve this, Colombia is expected to need a significant amount of electricity – in the range of 230 to 310 Terawatt-hours per year, depending on the decarbonisation pathway. "This presents the country with the challenge of having to install about 60 to 100 gigawatts of renewable energy generation facilities to meet national energy demands while at the same time aiming for green hydrogen exports," explains Thema.

In their paper, the authors examine and compare the current situation, projections, policies and narratives in both countries. The comparison shows that Colombia needs sector-specific decarbonisation strategies and a comprehensive vision for the energy transition to sustainably reduce its emissions. Germany, on the other hand, has advanced strategies and a more comprehensive vision, but needs to better consider the impacts of energy imports in a global context, especially in relation to exporting countries of the Global South such as Colombia. In their conclusions, the researchers formulate requirements to close these gaps.

The Wuppertal Paper No. 200 "The Energy Transition in Colombia: Current situation, projections, challenges, narratives and public policies – in relation to the energy transition in Germany" was prepared within the framework of the Junior Research Group on Energy Sufficiency (EnSu) funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The publication is available in English and Spanish and can be downloaded free of charge via the following link.