Ecopetrol, Baker Hughes, and Grupo EPM’s Caldas Hydroelectric Power Plant (CHEC) signed a memorandum of understanding to study the feasibility of a geothermal energy project in the Nereidas Valley, located in the department of Caldas, Colombia. The memorandum of understanding was signed with the presence of leaders of the participating companies during CeraWeek, an annual conference on energy that takes place in Houston, Texas.
The project consists of taking advantage of the heat and high temperatures inside the earth to produce electrical energy and could generate between 50 and 100 MW of renewable energy, which would be equivalent to supplying more than 250,000 homes.
The agreement, which will take place over 12 months, will include technical studies, analysis of the subsoil and structuring of financing sources to formulate a proposal for the generation of renewable energy that would later lead to the execution of a pilot in the department of Caldas.
The president of Ecopetrol, Felipe Bayón, highlighted the alliance and said that it would allow knowing the feasibility of carrying out a geothermal project.
For his part, Lorenzo Simonelli, president and CEO of Baker Hughes, said that geothermal energy plays an important role in diversifying the energy matrix of countries and reducing emissions.
“Geothermal energy is one of the most precious sources of non-conventional renewable energy and at this time, in which the energy transition is a priority for humanity and an opportunity to move towards new development models for Colombia, from the Alliance we hope to convene the interest and commitment of the national government so that we make possible the sustainable use of this resource for the benefit of local communities, the country and the entire planet”, said Santiago Villegas Yepes, General Manager of CHEC.
In addition, Ecopetrol is advancing in the study to execute the installation of a geothermal pilot plant in the Apiay field , located in the department of Meta, which will generate around 200 kilowatts (KW) for self-consumption. The pilot will be carried out taking advantage of the heat generated by the production fluids in the existing oil wells.
Currently, more than 20 countries generate geothermal energy, with the United States being the world’s largest producer, followed by Indonesia and the Philippines. With this initiative, it is expected that Colombia can take advantage of geothermal energy to diversify its energy matrix.
