In 2025, solar energy produced 4,473.8 gigawatt hours (GWh), surpassing coal generation by 25%, which reached 3,564.2 GWh, according to the Mining and Energy Planning Unit (UPME).
This event marks a turning point in the country’s energy history, establishing solar energy as a key player in the transition to clean sources.
President Gustavo Petro celebrated the achievement and set a new goal: to surpass generation with gas and petroleum derivatives, aiming for a matrix based on water, sun, wind, geothermal, and nuclear energy.
Exponential Growth
The evolution of solar energy in Colombia has been rapid:
- 2022: 255.4 GWh.
- 2023: 1,205.2 GWh.
- 2024: 3,297.2 GWh.
- 2025: 4,473.8 GWh.
This 1,650% growth in just four years reflects a structural change in the national energy matrix and places Colombia in a prominent position within the region.
Social Impact and Electrical Coverage
The advancement in solar generation is complemented by the expansion of access to electricity. In 2024, 539,351 new homes were connected, reaching a total of 17.9 million households with electricity. National coverage reached 93.1% in 2025, half a point more than in 2023.
This progress helps reduce territorial inequalities and improve the quality of life for millions of Colombians.
Key Benefits of Solar Energy
Solar energy is fundamental for the energy transition for multiple reasons:
- Ally against climate change: it does not produce greenhouse gases during its operation.
- Inexhaustible and accessible resource: the sun provides more energy than needed for the planet.
- Democratization of energy: allows self-consumption in homes and industries, reducing dependence on the grid.
- Efficiency and economic savings: solar technology is increasingly competitive and generates employment.
- Technological versatility: besides electricity, solar thermal energy meets hot water and industrial climate control needs.
Projections and Challenges
The challenge now is to maintain the growth rate and overcome dependence on gas and oil. To achieve this, it is necessary to:
- Investment in infrastructure: expand solar parks and transmission networks.
- Stable public policies: ensure incentives and clear regulatory frameworks.
- Regional integration: take advantage of electrical interconnections with neighboring countries.
- Technological diversification: combine solar energy with wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and nuclear energy.
The advancement of solar energy in Colombia not only represents a technical achievement but also a cultural and political change towards a renewable energy matrix. The country positions itself as a regional reference in the fight against climate change and in building a safer, more sustainable, and diversified energy future.
