Colombia: Innovation with national talent: Celsia investigates energy self-generation solutions in a modern solar laboratory

This Celsia release was published using machine translation.

January 19, 2023. The future of the country's photovoltaic solar energy is being investigated in a modern laboratory developed at the Celsia headquarters in Yumbo – Valle del Cauca; which has the support of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, and an investment of $1,600 million. All knowledge is developed with national talent.

The efficiency of 7 different solar module technologies, 15 types of anchoring structures for these systems, 8 types of inverters with battery systems for energy storage possibilities, and a monitoring and control system are being evaluated and compared. Likewise, foreign and local technology initiatives are being tested.

Solar research for the specific conditions of Colombia

“This is the second version of a laboratory that we put into operation in 2015 that allowed us to discover and take that leap in the energy revolution in Colombia, which took off with the commissioning of the first major project built in the country in 2017: Celsia Solar Yumbo. Large-scale solar energy is more than a reality in Colombia, and although some important steps have already been taken at the residential level, this laboratory will allow us to do things with more certainty. Additionally, this space becomes a learning center for interested customers, personnel being trained, and the Colombian electricity sector. We are waiting for you here so that we can learn together and continue advancing," said Julián Cadavid, Celsia's Transmission and Distribution leader.

Some relevant laboratory data:

• # of modules: 365
• Estimated annual generation: 328 kWh/year
• With the energy generated, between 5 and 7% of the energy demand of Celsia's administrative headquarters located in Yumbo (Valle del Cauca) is met.
• Ton CO ² avoided: 123.12 Ton CO ² / year.

  What is being investigated?

• Different roofs are being simulated, from materials used at the residential level to roofs used in industries, and even on floors or curved parking lots.
• Different fixing systems were implemented so that technical personnel learn about their assembly.
• Various types of inverters with associated battery systems are being evaluated, which, in addition to transforming or adapting energy for consumption, also serve to store energy and use it at times when customers need it most: at night, when the power supply grid failure or when time slots are implemented, in order to consume stored solar energy at times when grid power is more expensive.
• The monitoring and control system will allow Celsia to have an updated communications platform and develop supervision and control practices.

Support for national innovation

One of the technologies being tested is a follower or trackers , from a Colombian company, which allows the panels to follow the movement of the sun, simulating what a sunflower does; which increases the efficiency of the panel and therefore the generation of energy. This technology was used in the recently commissioned plant on the Caribbean coast, Celsia Solar Sincé.