Businesses that Challenge Us
Generation
Thanks to our generation assets, we generate clean, reliable energy, which contributes to the sustainable development of the countries where we are present.
GRI (103-1) At Celsia, we have assets to generate clean, reliable energy that contributes to the sustainable development of the countries where we are present; managing their life cycle, complying with occupational health and safety, socio-environmental quality and legal operational controls, considering a balance between costs, risks and opportunities, to guarantee the availability, reliability and safety required in the Organization’s Business Plan and the national electricity system.
We have a Strategic Asset-Management Plan with a short- medium- and long-term vision, where the objectives established are aligned with the Organization’s MEGA and for which the behavior of climatic variables, energy prices in the market, availability of fuels, requirements of environmental authorities among others, guarantee the best operational and tactical efficiency.
Our Management
GRI (103-2) We have a series of success factors to guarantee a world-class operation:
- Practices that guarantee the health and safety of all employees.
- Respect for, protection and conservation of ecosystems.
- Relationship with and adequate knowledge of the Stakeholders around the generation plants.
- Reliable assets that support market demands.
- Knowing the facilities and equipment and having trained, evaluated and competent personnel.
- Rigorous compliance with operational controls.
- Planning and scheduling with excellence in the short, medium and long term.
- Implementing asset management and operational discipline to unify procedures.
- Intervening generation units to define investment strategies focused on the efficient use of resources (water, sun, wind and fuels), increased efficiency of turbines and generators and technological updating and innovation.
Like the other businesses, the power-generation business contributes to leveraging innovative investments, such as electric mobility, and being pioneers in power generation from non-conventional renewable sources. Our power-generation business currently represents 7.58% of the Colombian energy matrix.
Installed Capacity
We have 33 power-generation plants (22 hydroelectric, 2 thermal, 1 wind, and 8 solar farms), 96 solar rooves and floors, and 461 solar rooves for homes, totaling an installed capacity of 1,787.10 MW, distributed in 1,249.64 MW hydroelectric, 356.2 MW thermal, 49.5 MW wind, and 131.76 MW photovoltaic.
Installed capacity
Energy Generated
GRI (EU2) During 2021, we generated 5,669.86 GWh, which represents an increase of 1,119.53 GWh, compared to 2020. Here are some highlights of this result:
Energy generated
Next, we present the main results by generation technology:
Hydroelectric Generation
Regarding hydroelectric generation, there was an increase of 28.03%, compared to 2020. The annual generation record of 501.31 GWh in the Dos Mares hydroelectric complex in Panama stands out, as well as the use of the significant increase in energy contributions received by the basins that supply the Organization’s resources.
Thermal Generation
- It is important to highlight that last year, we were generating in an essential manner during peak hours, due to an ETESA transmission restriction on the 115 kV lines in the area of Colón, Panama
- In December 2021, Meriléctrica – our thermal power plant in Barrancabermeja, Colombia – generated with the aim of achieving an improvement in its Historical Unavailability Indicator (HUI), which is one of the important parameters to calculate firm energy for the reliability charge (Energía Firme para el cargo por confiabilidad, ENFICC).
Wind and Photovoltaic Generation
- Wind generation in Central America showed an increase of 11.9%, compared to what was registered in 2020.
- In 2021, growth was achieved in the installation of photovoltaic projects in Colombia, Honduras and Panama, including the entry into commercial operation of the Celsia La Paila Solar Farm of 9.9 MW, reflecting an increase compared to the previous year in both the installed capacity, as well as in energy generated.
- In the 2021 renewable energy auction, Celsia was favored with the 100 MW El Escobal Solar Farm Project.
Photovoltaic solar energy
Co-generation
During 2021, Celsia purchased surpluses for 196.2 GWh from co-generators in Colombia, such as Mayagüez, Manuelita, San Carlos and Carmelita. On the other hand, 10.2 GWh were purchased from self-generators, among which Argos Cartagena, Yumbo and Toluviejo in Colombia stand out.
Generation Mix
At Celsia, we are committed to our Sustainability Strategy focused on renewable energy. We have 600 MW of photovoltaic solar energy under development and 330 MW of wind energy, which we expect to incorporate into the current portfolio of generation resources in 2025.
Generation Mix (Generation and Installed Capacity)
Energy Efficiency
GRI (EU11)
- The efficiency of coal-based power-generation plants is reported at zero (0), due to the structured closure of the Bahía Las MinasThermal Plant in Panama, which exited the Regional Electricity market (Mercado Eléctrico Regional, MER)
- The efficiency Reported in the Meriléctrica Thermal Power Plant (simple cycle) in Barrancabermeja, Colombia, is 34.94%, which corresponds to the test carried out at the beginning of 2022, where the Net Effective Capacity of the plant was 164 MW, with a Heat Rate 9,000.27 Btu/kWh.
Generation efficiency
Availability
GRI (EU30)
The reduction in the availability of the Meriléctrica Thermal Power Plant in Barrancabermeja, Colombia, corresponded to the damage of the main transformer, which occurred between November 16, 2020 and May 24, 2021 (a total of 191 days). Despite the incident that occurred, we replaced the power transformer in record time – even with the events associated with the COVID-19 global health situation, thus managing to reduce transportation, repair and assembly times at the plant.
Availability
Main results
GRI (103-3) Our achievements are summed up in the results of the key indicators defined in the Strategy, demonstrating coordination between Commercial Team and the short- and long-term Sales and Purchase Management, with the generation-plant Operation and Maintenance Teams.
We highlight the following milestones:
Continuation of the technological-updating project of the Advanced Generation Diagnosis Center (AGDC).
Implementation of a system for the sustainable management of sediments in the Bajo Anchicayá Hydraulic Power Plant, in Valle del Cauca, Colombia
Consolidation of the remote operation from the Monitoring and Control Center, located in Yumbo, of 118 MW of the Alto Tuluá, Bajo Tuluá and Amaime Hydroelectric Plants in Valle del Cauca and Cucuana, Tolima, Colombia.
Supervision from the Monitoring and Control Center of the Río Piedras, Montañitas and San Andrés de Cuerquia Hydroelectric Plants, located in the Department of Antioquia, Colombia (60 MW of installed capacity).
Overhaul of the Salvajina Hydroelectric Plant unit turbine, in Valle de Cauca, Colombia.
Change of the Unit 1 and 2 inlet valves of the Calima Hydroelectric Plant in Calima, Valle del Cauca, contributing to the efficient use of water, operational safety, the extension of useful life, and the improvement in the reliability of the plant.
Our own operation and maintenance of the Guanacaste Wind Park, located in Costa Rica.
Our generation assets are managed with rigorously scheduled maintenance programs and with an average annual investment plan of USD 25 million, in addition to a group of highly qualified employees for the intervention of the generation units and for the definition of investment strategies, focused on:
Efficient use of water
Increase in efficiency of turbines and generators
Technological updating
Innovation
During 2021, we received the following recognitions:
Recognition from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Colombia
for the Advanced Generation Diagnosis Center (AGDC) investment plan.
Recognition from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Colombia
for the investment project denominated Development of a Sustainable Sediment Management System for the Bajo Anchicayá Hydroelectric Power Plant , in Valle del Cauca, Colombia.
New Challenges
GRI (103-2)
These are our challenges in the short and medium term:
(0 to 2 years)
- Continue with the Consolidation of our offer in solar generation in Colombia and Central America.
- Consolidate remote operation of 178 MW from our Monitoring and Control Center, located in Yumbo.
- Implement the Advanced Generation Diagnosis System (AGD) for Colombia’s hydroelectric plants, which will improve asset management by anticipating failures and avoiding corrective measures that affect availability and generation deviations.
- Implement the technological updating of the Río Piedras Hydroelectric Plant power transformers, in the Department of Antioquia, Colombia.
- Technological updating of the 230 kV power cables for the Alto Anchicayá Plant, changing from an oil-immersed cable technology to a dry type.
- Implement a system for the Sustainable Management of Sediments in the Bajo Anchicayá Plant, in Valle del Cauca, Colombia, to obtain an average annual generation that fluctuates between 330 -350 GW-h/year.
(3 to 5 years)
- Consolidate the wind supply through the commissioning of projects in the north of Colombia.
- Have the development of a wind project in Costa Rica, to take advantage of a possible adjudication by the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity.
- Continue with the identification and development of initiatives to increase the installed capacity of solar- and wind-generation plants, both in Colombia as well as in Central America.
- Technologically update the GIS 230 kV encapsulated substation of the Salvajina Hydroelectric Plant, in the Department of Cauca, Colombia
- Technologically update the 230-kV power cables for the Salvajina plant, changing from an oil-immersed cable technology to a dry type.
(6 or more years)
- Continue with the Identification of new business models or new markets that allow the development of initiatives aligned with the Company’s Sustainable and Renewable Strategy.
- Implement the technological updating of the power transformers of the units of the Bajo Anchicayá Hydroelectric Plant, in Valle del Cauca, Colombia.
- Transfer the Ovejas River to the Salvajina Hydroelectric Plant reservoir, in Valle del Cauca, Colombia, to increase installed capacity and generation.
- Increase the efficiency of the Francis-type turbine at the Salvajina Hydroelectric Plant, in Cauca, Colombia.
- Enter new markets in the Caribbean and Central America region.
Glossary
Advanced Vision Operations Center (NOVA, in Spanish)
Our Integrated Operations Center, unique in Latin America, puts our Organization at the forefront in terms of monitoring, supervising and controlling the entire electrical network and new businesses.
Cogeneration: A high energy-efficiency system, in which electrical energy and thermal energy are obtained simultaneously from primary energy, which is usually obtained by burning fossil fuels, such as gas.
Heat Rate: A heating test performed on thermal power-plant turbines to measure energy-conversion efficiency.
Installed Capacity: Production potential or maximum production volume that can be achieved during a given period of time, taking into account all available resources.
Non-Conventional Renewable Sources: All those sources of energy generation in which the consumption, expense or depletion of their energy source is not incurred. These energy sources include hydraulic energy and wind energy, among others.
Overhaul: Major maintenance performed on generation assets.
Self-Generation: Electric power generation carried out in our home, school or business. As a requirement to inject it into the grid, it must have been generated using non-conventional renewable energy. Self-generated energy will supply part of the total electrical consumption.
