CALCULATION OF A FEED-IN RATE FOR THE RESIDENTIAL PHOTOVOLTAIC MECHANISMS IN COLOMBIA

Abstract

The objective of this article is to estimate a residential feed-in rate that will encourage the production of photovoltaic energy in Colombia. For this calculation, the used methodology was one that combines the point of equilibrium analysis by Rigter and Vidican (2010) with the representation of a photovoltaic mechanism designed by the Homer Energy software. The feed-in rate is calculated for three different locations in the country, and for Bogota the rate is 4,359 pesos per kilowatt-hour for a 3 kW photovoltaic system. Even though the estimated rate can seem high according to the economic and institutional constrains of the Colombian State, the space to explore alternative mechanisms and pilot programs
exists. The article also discusses the barriers and legal possibilities for stimulating of renewable energies in Colombia.