Colombia tweaks rules to max out renewables amid El Nino drought

The Colombian ministry of mining and energy on Monday issued a resolution requiring maximum utilisation of non-conventional renewables as the country grapples with low hydropower generation due to the El Nino drought season.

The Resolution 40132 states that the national dispatch centre will be responsible for scheduling and dispatching all centrally dispatched non-conventional renewables based on the generation programme, in compliance with the security, quality, and reliability criteria of the power grid. Additionally, non-conventional renewables that are centrally dispatched will not be subject to the calculation of deviations to the generation programme or the settlement of such deviations.

The ministry acknowledged that the current regulations on deviations to the generation programme may hinder the efficient utilisation of non-conventional renewables during periods of low hydropower generation. The national dispatch centre has identified solar farms that are not being centrally dispatched due to their pricing structure and the position of their market representatives on current deviation settlement rules.

In light of this, Colombia’s grid operator XM, which also acts as the national dispatch centre, has recommended the establishment of mechanisms that allow non-conventional renewables to contribute their maximum available energy, the Resolution said.

The Resolution 40132 is a temporary measure that will be in effect until April 30, 2024, or until the Energy and Gas Regulation Commission (CREG) issues new regulations.

Colombia currently faces a power supply crisis, with hydropower inflows reaching record lows below 40% since April 8.

Mining and energy minister Andres Camacho expects the new measure to raise the share of non-conventional renewables in the system to 7% from the current 5%, according to a report by radio station La FM. The government may explore other alternatives, such as asking companies that generate their own energy to disconnect from the grid or incentivise them to reduce consumption for the duration of El Nino, the report said.

Also on Monday, the Colombian government issued a directive to thermal power plants in the country, ordering them to operate at maximum capacity every day of the week during the El Nino season.

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