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  4. Colectora 500 KV Electrical Power Transmission Line

Colectora 500 KV Electrical Power Transmission Line

Building a sustainable future: WSP in Colombia's role in the Colectora project.

The Colectora project aims to connect the wind potential of the La Guajira Peninsula, located in northern Colombia, with other areas of the country. To achieve this, a new 500 kV substation and two electric transmission lines will be built, covering a total distance of 475 kilometers. These lines will carry the electricity generated by seven wind farms to the Sistema Interconectado Nacional (National Interconnected System).

This project represents a significant advancement in the country’s energy transition because it will reduce the use of fossil fuels such as coal or oil, enabling cleaner and more sustainable electricity generation. Specifically, these electric transmission lines will deliver 1,050 MW, equivalent to nearly 10% of Colombia’s energy demand.

WSP in Colombia has been involved in this project through its Energy and Earth & Environment sectors.

The Earth & Environment team conducted an environmental impact assessment for the Colectora-Cuestecitas line and a study for the Cuestecitas-La Loma line. In these studies, the following activities were carried out across 14 municipalities in the La Guajira and Cesar Departments:

  • Prior consultations and informed participation processes involving 235 ethnic communities. These processes were conducted considering the culture of these communities and respecting their collective rights, knowledge, cultural practices, and livelihoods.

  • Forest census survey covering 3,227 hectares.

  • Biodiversity studies to formulate conservation and management measures, as well as to maintain ecosystem services.

  • Development of special measures aimed at reducing the impact of the project on highly threatened tropical dry forest ecosystems by up to 72%.

 

SDG ALIGNMENT

Sustainable Development Goal 15 - Life on Land

Location

  • La Guajira, Colombia

Client

  • Enlaza, a subsidiary of Grupo Energía Bogotá

Project Status

  • In progress

Additionally, the Energy team participated in the pre-design phase of the bidding process and provided engineering support for the construction during a public call for proposals named, ‘’Plan de Expansión de Referencia Generación –Transmisión 2015-2029’’ (Generation-Transmission Reference Expansion Plan 2015-2029). The project includes:

  • Two 500 kV lines, each with a single circuit, running from the Cuestecitas 500 kV substation to the Colectora 500 kV substation, covering an approximate distance of 120 km.

  • One 500 kV line from the Cuestecitas 500 kV substation to the La Loma 500 kV substation, spanning approximately 250 km.

The Colectora project represents a significant step toward energy transition, promoting not only the use of cleaner and more sustainable energy sources but also contributing to the country’s sustainable development by mitigating environmental impacts and respecting the rights of Indigenous communities.

WSP in Colombia continues to play a crucial role in building a greener and more prosperous future for all, through the efforts of the Earth & Environment and Energy teams.

Kilometers of transmission lines
475 475
Environmental impact studies that involved (municipalities)
14 14
Prior consultations with ethnic communities
235 235
Forest census covering
3,227 ha 3,227 ha
Reduction in ecosystem impacts
72% 72%

Other challenges that we have overcome