BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia’s ambitious plans for wind energy development, especially in the resource-rich La Guajira region, are facing serious setbacks as major companies pull out and projects stall, industry experts say.
Margarita Nieves, director of the Colombian Offshore Wind Research Network, told The Associated Press that despite large targets — including 1.1 gigawatts awarded in a 2019 auction — only two wind farms are partially operating today, with a combined capacity of less than 32 megawatts.
Colombia’s Mining and Energy Planning Unit estimates the country could generate up to 18 gigawatts of wind energy — nearly double the nation’s current installed electricity capacity of 20 gigawatts.
Several companies brought equipment and infrastructure to Colombia around 2021 before securing permits, but parks remain unbuilt. Key obstacles include limited grid connection infrastructure in La Guajira, recent regulatory…
