Colombia has approved COP 8.35 trillion ($2.1 billion) for its Colombia Solar program to equip 1.3 million low-income households with PV systems between 2026 and 2030.

The Colombian government has approved 83.5 billion pesos (approximately US$2.1 billion) for the "Colombian Solar Plan" from 2026 to 2030, aiming to install rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for about 1.3 million low-income households.

The Colombian National Planning Agency (DNP) confirmed that policy document CONPES 4158 approved 83.5 billion pesos for the period 2026-2030 to support an electricity subsidy program for approximately 1.3 million low-income households. This program, part of the "Colombian Solar Plan" led by the Ministry of Mines and Energy and technically supported by the DNP and the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, aims to replace traditional electricity subsidies with rooftop solar PV self-generation.

Project funding will come from public, private, and international partnerships, with implementation handled by grid operators, local governments, and utilities. The project is expected to reduce electricity bills for beneficiary households through solar PV self-generation, while also alleviating financial pressure on the Solidarity Subsidy and Income Redistribution Fund (FSSRI), which incurred a deficit of over 40 billion pesos in 2024.

The plan is also expected to create over 25,000 direct and indirect jobs, drive green economic development, and provide renewable energy technology training in key areas, including the “Regional Development Project” areas established after the Colombian government signed a peace agreement with FARC-EP in 2016.

Furthermore, the project aligns with recent regulatory reforms, including expedited environmental permitting processes for solar projects ranging from 10 MW to 100 MW, with approval times expected to be reduced by 70%, and optimized assessment criteria based on the characteristics of photovoltaic projects.