The Colombian government has taken a key step in its energy policy by regulating the Colombia Solar programme, an initiative designed to enable households in socioeconomic strata 1, 2 and 3—the country’s lowest income brackets—to generate their own electricity from renewable sources and reduce their dependence on traditional energy subsidies.

The measure was formalised through Resolution 40159 of 2026, issued by Colombia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy, which establishes the technical, financial and operational guidelines required to implement the programme nationwide.

Colombia Solar will allow the installation of individual and collective solar photovoltaic (solar PV) systems, enabling users to cover their basic electricity consumption through self-generation from renewable energy sources. The government presents the model as an alternative to the current subsidy-based electricity scheme.

“The Colombia Solar programme marks a structural shift: we are moving from subsidising electricity consumption to promoting household energy self-generation,” said Edwin Palma, Colombia’s Minister of Mines and Energy.

The programme will also prioritise beneficiaries based on criteria such as poverty levels, electricity service costs, territorial conditions and solar radiation potential in each region.

According to the minister, the regulation will make it possible to deliver real energy solutions to the most vulnerable families, reduce the fiscal burden on the electricity system and advance towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy mix.

Another key component of the initiative is the definition of **long-term operation and maintenance schemes—lasting up to 25 years—**to ensure the sustainability of the installed systems. The programme will also incorporate advanced metering systems to monitor both electricity consumption and the energy generated by the installations.

Palma added that the policy places citizens at the centre of the energy transition, ensuring equitable access to clean energy technologies across the entire national territory.

The initiative, which has been declared of national strategic interest, also aims to reduce pressure on the electricity sector’s subsidy fund while advancing the country’s goal of achieving an energy transition with a strong social focus.

The full text of Resolution 40159 of 16 March 2026 is available through Colombia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy.