It’s pointless to flood our territory with solar panels without changing our consumption habits.

When it comes to energy transition, the discussion usually centers on the need to change the sources from which the electricity that powers our homes, businesses, and industries is generated. Naturally, the debate has been limited to highlighting the importance of moving toward an energy mix with a greater share of renewable resources. This is because in 2015, Colombia and 192 other countries made a series of commitments within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including providing citizens with energy generated from low-emission sources and promoting the development of sustainable cities.

In this regard, the 2030 Agenda (as the Sustainable Development Goals are commonly known) requires member countries to design public policies that frame economic growth alongside environmental protection, including obligations aimed at replacing energy generation sources. It is important to remember that, globally, fossil fuels remain predominant in this sector, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. However, it should be noted that Colombia has a different energy mix than most other nations.

Few people realize that renewable energy sources predominate in our country’s electricity sector, with hydroelectric plants accounting for almost 70% of the total and responsible for meeting our consumption needs. For this reason, harnessing unconventional energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, and hydrogen would not only allow us to mitigate environmental impact but also, by diversifying our energy mix, minimize our current dependence on water resources, which has led to near-rationing during past droughts.

But this is where the debate becomes interesting: would it be enough for the transition to be reduced to simply changing energy sources? The answer is no, but it seems that governments, in their eagerness to fulfill their part in the environmental narrative, are concentrating all their efforts on building solar farms and wind farms without considering that, in the long run, the widespread adoption of this type of infrastructure will also have negative environmental effects.

It’s important to keep in mind that both solar panels and wind turbines require large quantities of minerals such as copper, aluminum, and silicon, among others. Solar farms, in particular, require vast tracts of land for their construction. It would be ironic to destroy ecosystems through mining and the use of fertile land in order to fulfill a discourse that supposedly aims to protect them.

Therefore, I reaffirm the premise that Colombia will not achieve its energy transition goals solely through solar farms. In my view, the true key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals lies in efficient energy management, which, simply put, means promoting the responsible use of this resource. This involves reducing consumption without limiting industrial operations, depriving households of appliances, or restricting business hours. Implementing energy efficiency practices is possible today thanks to various technological advancements such as smart metering and monitoring applications. This translates into lower energy bills for both large and small consumers, while also generating a reduced environmental impact.

Thus, in light of the recent announcement by the Ministry of Mines and Energy regarding the development of a roadmap for the energy transition, it is essential to begin considering efficient management measures as the new focus of this policy. Simply flooding our country with solar panels is pointless without changing our consumption habits. Replacing the energy source without further consideration will not help protect the environment. Both Colombian industry and households can implement these methods as part of our contribution.