GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN COLOMBIA: GEOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK, EXPLORATION ADVANCES, AND PROSPECTS FOR DEVELOPMENT

Juan Camilo Mejía-Fragoso , Cristina Dapeña

This work systematically reviews studies and technical reports on the current state of geothermal energy in Colombia, including its limitations, environmental implications, regulatory progress, and development prospects. Exploration has focused on high-enthalpy volcanic systems (Nevado del Ruiz, Azufral, Paipa, and Tufiño–Chiles–Cerro Negro), where reservoir temperatures exceed 200 °C and preliminary potentials range between 20–200 MWe per site. In parallel, conduction-dominated systems in sedimentary basins—particularly in the Llanos—have proven feasible through oilfield co-production pilots and binary ORC plants (200–320 kWe), with an additional estimated potential of 170–287 MWe.

At the national scale, the Colombian Geological Survey estimates a preliminary potential of ~1170 MWe in convection-dominated systems, with projections of up to 800 MWe installed by 2050. Recent milestones include the first geothermal power generation at Campo Maracas (2024) and the concession for advanced exploration at Azufral (2025). Regulatory frameworks—Law 2099 (2021), Decree 1318 (2022), and Decree 1598 (2024)—have consolidated geothermal energy as an independent source within Colombia’s energy matrix.

Despite its strategic potential to diversify the matrix and provide stable, low-emission baseload power, significant technological, financial, and exploratory uncertainties remain, underscoring the need for drilling, reservoir characterization, and innovative approaches (e.g., machine learning) to reduce risks and enable project development.