Colombia’s ANLA Greenlights 200 MW Solar Project, Strengthening the Country’s Energy Transition
- Özcan Berk Atakan
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Colombia has taken another significant step toward expanding its renewable energy capacity after the national environmental authority, ANLA (Autoridad Nacional de Licencias Ambientales), approved the environmental license for a 200 MWAC solar photovoltaic project in the country’s north.
The project, known as the Ariguani Solar PV Plant, will be developed in the municipality of Chiriguaná, located in the Cesar Department. Once operational, it is expected to become one of the larger utility-scale solar installations in the region, contributing meaningfully to Colombia’s growing non-conventional renewable energy portfolio.
The Ariguani project will have an installed capacity of 200 MW AC, corresponding to approximately 250 MWp DC. It will be built in a rural area known as Los Cerrajones, an area identified as suitable for large-scale solar development due to its high irradiation levels and available land.
The project is being developed by Xuenergy FV SAS, through a dedicated special purpose vehicle. According to the environmental approval, the development includes not only the solar plant itself but also associated infrastructure required for grid connection and long-term operation.
ANLA’s approval follows a comprehensive environmental and technical assessment. As part of the license, the developer is required to implement a biodiversity compensation and environmental management plan, focusing on the Lower Cesar sub-basin within the Magdalena–Cauca watershed.
These measures aim to mitigate potential impacts on local ecosystems while ensuring that renewable energy expansion aligns with Colombia’s environmental protection standards. The decision reflects the country’s increasingly structured approach to balancing large-scale energy investments with ecological responsibility.
Colombia’s power system has traditionally been dominated by hydropower, making it vulnerable to climate variability and prolonged dry periods. The rapid development of utility-scale solar projects like Ariguani plays a crucial role in diversifying the national energy mix, enhancing grid resilience, and reducing exposure to hydrological risks.
By approving projects of this scale, Colombia continues to position itself as one of Latin America’s more promising solar markets, with a growing pipeline of licensed and under-development renewable assets.
The ANLA approval of the Ariguani solar project signals sustained momentum in Colombia’s renewable energy transition. As more large-scale projects move from permitting into construction, solar energy is expected to play an increasingly central role in meeting future electricity demand while supporting national decarbonization goals.
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