Coal news and updates

Termoguajira to be Colombia’s 1st coal TPP to shift to 100% renewables

The Termoguajira coal and gas-fired power plant in Dibulla, Colombia, will be the country’s first thermoelectric plant to switch to 100% decarbonised electricity generation, Colombian minister of mining and energy Irene Velez Torres announced on Saturday.

The facility, owned by power producer and trader Gecelca, will switch to renewables through a scheme that will include solar panels and battery energy storage systems (BESS), the announcement said.

The installation of synchronous condensers to provide stability to the grid is also in the plan. The technical strategy to maximise the connection point and determine the ratio of panels and batteries is currently in the works, according to the ministry.

The 290-MW power plant now uses coal as the main fuel for its operation and natural gas as secondary fuel. The ministry of mining and energy will assist in its transformation by providing technical advice and supporting the search for alternatives to finance the investment, Velez said.

Gecelca’s board also decided to promote solar energy installations in its area of influence in Dibulla by joining the ministry’s initiative Estallido Solar.

The Colombian government is currently preparing a just energy transition plan, dubbed “From Coal to the Future”, where it will address labour and other issues surrounding the decarbonisation of domestic coal-based power plants and their areas of influence. The plan is expected to be released for public consultation in November 2023, the ministry said.