Abstract
Colombia is a country with great potential for the exploitation of geothermal energy due to its high volcanic activity caused by the subduction between the Nazca and South American tectonic plates. However, this energy is yet to be exploited. This article seeks to describe, by means of a literature review and information processing, the current status of geothermal energy in Colombia, including the current regulations, the limitations, the recommendations to develop the geothermal energy, and some of the most important projects, studies, and research papers that have been emerged on the discovery, exploration, and exploitation of geothermal energy within the country, emphasizing the areas where exploration projects have been initiated, such as the Nevado del Ruiz volcano, the Tufiño–Chiles–Cerro Negro volcanic system, the Azufral volcano geothermal area, and the Paipa geothermal area. Over the years, energy vulnerability in Colombia and a government policy of fostering sustainable development in different territories have generated favorable conditions for the exploitation of geothermal resources. Nevertheless, there are several technical, infrastructural, legal, and institutional barriers that slow the proper development of these projects.
Highlights
According to a report from the Mining and Energy Planning Unit (UPME) [1], approximately 70% of the electric power in Colombia comes from hydroelectric power plants, 29% comes from fossil fuels, and 1% comes from other sources; these data illustrate Colombia’s substantial dependence on hydroelectric plants, whose conditions and electricity generation are governed by climate and whose environmental impacts are widely questioned [2]-[4]
According to a lecture by Ramírez [24] at the National Geothermal Meeting (RENAG) 2017, some issues that CORPOCALDAS has faced in the study of the environmental license granted to Caldas Hydroelectric Power Station (CHEC) and in the process of granting the environmental license to ISAGEN are technical and scientific ignorance within CORPOCALDAS on the subject of geothermal energy and the spatial superposition of the projects presented by ISAGEN and CHEC
According to a study performed by OLADE in 1982 [38] and the geothermal research plan developed by the Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC), there are other areas in Colombia that are deemed potentially suitable for the development of geothermal energy generation projects: the San Diego volcano area, the Cerro Machín volcano, the Santa Rosa de Cabal area in the department of Risaralda, the Galeras volcano area, Cumbal, and Puracé, among others
Summary
According to a report from the Mining and Energy Planning Unit (UPME) [1], approximately 70% of the electric power in Colombia comes from hydroelectric power plants, 29% comes from fossil fuels (coal, diesel, fuel oil, and gas-fired power plants), and 1% comes from other sources (biomass, wind and solar power); these data illustrate Colombia’s substantial dependence on hydroelectric plants, whose conditions and electricity generation are governed by climate and whose environmental impacts are widely questioned [2]-[4]. According to several studies published since 1968, predominantly carried out by the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), the Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC), the National University of Colombia, the Caldas Hydroelectric Power Station (CHEC) belonging to the Empresas Publicas de Medellín (EPM) group, and ISAGEN (a former government company that since 2016 has become a subsidiary of the Canadian Brookfield Asset Management group) in Colombia, there are several geothermal areas that could potentially be used to establish geothermal energy generation projects (Figure 1) This resource is currently not being exploited in the country.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
