The Colombian government has launched the specifications and conditions to open an auction for temporary area permits for offshore wind projects of at least 200 MW and no larger than 270 km2 off the coast of the Magdalena, Atlantico, Bolivar and Sucre provinces. The temporary permits should grant developers exclusive rights over certain maritime areas for 8 years, during which they will carry out feasibility studies for their projects and those deemed feasible will be able to obtain a 30-year concession.
The National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) should publish the list of qualified companies on 21 April 2024, with submissions being open until 24 August 2024, and the areas being awarded in late December 2024. In its first round of offshore wind, Colombia expects to allocate around 3 GW over a 12,000 km2 area, in line with its goal to have 7 GW of offshore wind capacity installed by 2040.
As of end-2022, Colombia had an installed capacity of nearly 20 GW dominated by hydroelectricity (64%) with a marginal wind capacity (less than 1% with 18 MW). Some offshore wind projects that have been announced so far in the country, including 350 MW Baranquilla by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) expected in 2026 and BlueFloat Energy's 200 MW Vientos Alisios expected in 2027.
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