Colombian state-owned petroleum company Ecopetrol SA has inaugurated the La Cira Infantas solar farm, a 56.12-MW facility located in the Santander department of north-central Colombia. The project, which represents an investment of USD 49.64 million, was developed as a self-consumption scheme to support Ecopetrol's operations.
The solar farm features 84,900 solar panels spread across an area of 53 hectares (131 acres) in Barrancabermeja. It is expected to generate up to 76.3 GWh annually, enough to power approximately 40,500 households. The La Cira Infantas facility is designed to supply 14% of the electricity demand for the La Cira Infantas oilfield, which will significantly reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 12,500 tonnes of CO2.
Ecopetrol's CEO Ricardo Roa Barragan emphasized the company's commitment to renewable energy, stating, “We have the Castilla, San Fernando and Brisas solar farms. By the end of 2024, in addition to the Solar Farm at the Cartagena Refinery in the department of Bolivar, we will have three smaller solar farms in operation in the transport segment. In this way, we are consolidating our position as a leader in the transition in Latin America.”
Ecopetrol plans to have between 700 MW and 800 MW of renewable energy projects in various stages of development, construction, and operation by the end of 2024.
