The high concentration of solar energy projects in small municipalities of Córdoba is generating challenges in terms of regulation and territorial planningas alerted by Orlando Medina, director of the Regional Autonomous Corporation of the Sinú and San Jorge Valleys (CVS), during the recent Mining and Energy Forum held in Montería.
Medina revealed that municipalities with a small territorial area are hosting a significant percentage of the installed photovoltaic energy capacity of the entire country.
“There is a concentration of these projects in relatively small municipalities, category 6 municipalities, 600 km2 of area would be carrying up to 5% of the installed capacity in photovoltaic energy generation of the entire country, that, on the one hand, I think is “a challenge of utmost importance”said the official.
This situation poses significant challenges for local and regional authorities in terms of regulation, planning and management of the territory. The massive arrival of solar projects to municipalities with limited institutional capacity and Infrastructure can generate unforeseen impacts on aspects such as land use, demand for public services, ecosystem protection and local social and economic dynamics.
Given this panorama, the director of the CVS called to seek a deconcentration of these projects, working hand in hand with the developers and the national government. “See how we can review with these project developers and with the national government the deconcentration of these projects”said Medina.
Solar energy has been gaining ground in the department of Córdoba thanks to its high radiation potential and incentives for the energy transition. However, CVS warns that a disorderly and concentrated growth of these projects can bring more problems than benefits to the territories.
The alerts launched by the environmental authority opened a debate about the need for clearer regulation and better planning for the deployment of solar projects in the department. This in order to maximize its benefits in terms of clean generation and local development, while minimizing negative impacts and promoting a more balanced distribution of these initiatives in the territory.
#Colombia
