Nereidas geothermal project seen to strengthen Colombia’s energy matrix

Nevados del Ruiz Volcano, Colombia (source: flickr/ Aztlek, creative commons)

The Caldas Hydroelectric Power Plant (Chec) , Ecopetrol and Baker Hughes recently joined forces to develop non-conventional renewable energy in Colombia through geothermal energy. This project, recently highlighted in an article in La Patria, is coordinated by Julián López Palacio and is intended to be carried out in the Nereidas Valley, near the Nevado del Ruiz volcano. The objective is to take advantage of underground heat to generate electricity, adding energy to the country’s current grid.

The Nereidas Valley, the epicentre of this project, has been a hotbed of geothermal exploration since 1997, when the Nereidas 1 well was drilled. Now, with a new phase of exploration, the region is expected to have a potential of up to 65 MW. If the new drilling is successful, a 30-MW plant capable of supplying a city like Manizales would be built.

Jesús Rueda Gutiérrez, from the Colombian Geological Service (SGC) and president of the Colombian Geothermal Association (AGEOCOL) , highlights that geothermal energy is presented as a renewable energy solution with low carbon emissions, aligned with global goals of reducing climate change. In addition to generating electricity, geothermal heat has multiple applications, such as use in thermal pools, home heating and food processing.

The Nereidas project could begin operating in 2030, placing Colombia at the forefront of clean energy in the region, alongside countries such as Costa Rica, Mexico and Chile.

Source: La Patria via our Spanish language platform PiensaGeotermia