A program in Colombia is encouraging 1000 entrepreneurs and small traders to **install solar systems** with incentives.
It is called **Colombia Solar for Popular Economies** and is led by the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Fund for Non-Conventional Energies and Efficient Energy Management (**FENOGE**).
Essentially, it proposes that beneficiaries **access photovoltaic systems** with an incentive of up to **60% or 20 million Colombian pesos** (approximately 5000 dollars).
How the program for installing solar systems works
With this program from the Colombian Government, entrepreneurs and traders from **strata 1, 2, and 3** will be able to access photovoltaic systems, clean energy.
How the program works.
Its main objective is to reduce the cost of electricity bills for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
In this new stage, incentives are offered to businesses throughout the country, the possibility to select the installation company, and the financial entity to cover the remaining 40%.This can be done through credit or own resources.
Who can access
The program is focused on strata 1, 2, and 3. In Colombia, socioeconomic strata are an official classification that determines the **income level and living conditions of households**.
Thus, stratum 1 corresponds to the “very low” category, stratum 2 to “low,” and stratum 3 to **”lower-middle.”** These groups are made up of users with fewer resources and are beneficiaries of subsidies in public services such as electricity, water, and gas.
The stratification is determined by the National Administrative Department of Statistics (**DANE**) and is used to **target state aid and subsidies**.
How it will be implemented
The total investment of the program is **42 billion Colombian pesos** (around 10.5 million dollars), distributed in two phases. The first phase, already executed, allowed the **installation of 100 photovoltaic systems** in businesses in the **Caribbean region**, including stores, restaurants, and bakeries. In this phase, **100% of the financing was covered by the State**.
According to official data, this first phase of the program allowed beneficiaries to **reduce the value of their electricity bills by between 50% and 70%**.
The second phase, currently in progress, expands nationally and will benefit about **1000 additional businesses**, with a co-financing model.
In this sense, to access the benefit, businesses must be located in strata 1, 2, or 3 and engage in popular economy activities, either **from residential units or commercial premises**.
The benefits of implementation.
Requirements for this stage
Among the requirements are the **ownership and healthiness of the buildings**, standardized electrical networks, payment of energy bills, shade study, and structural analysis.
Regarding companies interested in implementing the systems, they must be **legally established in Colombia**, comply with tax and social security obligations, and have experience in installing solar systems of at least **2 kWp connected to the grid**.
The program also considers the **possibility for beneficiaries to sell the surplus** energy generated to the grid, which can represent an additional income for small businesses.
Registrations, both for beneficiaries and implementers, can be done by **accessing this link** here.
