Colombia has taken the first step toward transforming its offshore wind potential into a real energy industry. The National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) has approved the bid from CI GMF II Coöperatief UA, a company linked to Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), to develop a 425 MW offshore wind project in the Caribbean.
The proposal corresponds to the BAONS_A_B area, located in Polygon B , and comprises a maritime surface of 139,562 km² . The final eligibility list was published by the ANH on December 16, 2025, after concluding the evaluation of the bids without receiving any objections to the preliminary result.
The project would require an investment of approximately USD 1 billion , according to official information released by the Colombian government. This figure positions the development as one of the largest and most economically significant renewable energy projects undertaken to date in the country.
“ Colombia marks a historic milestone with the awarding of the first offshore wind energy project of 425 MW in the Caribbean ,” the Government highlights in its official statement.
The announcement does not mean the park is ready to begin construction immediately. The outcome allows for the temporary occupation of the maritime area and opens a phase of studies, permits, technical structuring, electrical connection, and environmental assessment before a final investment decision is made.
This precision is crucial to understanding the significance of the event: Colombia has not yet added 425 MW to the electrical system, but it is transforming a theoretical resource into a project with a defined area, declared capacity, and a selected developer .
It's worth recalling that Energía Estratégica had identified, before the process closed, a group of developers and projects with the potential to compete in Colombia's first offshore wind auction , including initiatives linked to Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), BlueFloat Energy, Jan De Nul, DEME, and other international players interested in harnessing the Caribbean's wind resources. The survey anticipated broader competition, but also cautioned that actual participation would depend on the remuneration scheme, risk allocation, and regulatory certainty offered by the country.
Finally, the definitive eligibility list narrowed that universe down to a single valid offer: the one submitted by CI GMF II Coöperatief UA, a company linked to CIP, to develop 425 MW in the BAONS_A_B area, over an extension of 139,562 km² in Polygon B.
The first step towards a goal of 7 GW
The government projects that offshore wind power will help diversify an energy mix historically dominated by hydroelectric generation. Harnessing Caribbean winds would add a complementary renewable energy source, although it will require strengthening the grid and properly planning its integration.
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“ This achievement makes Colombia a pioneer in Latin America in the development of offshore wind energy ,” the government stated. This pioneering status should be understood within the context of this first competitive award and the regulatory progress made, as several Latin American countries are also preparing offshore frameworks and projects at various stages.
The long-term objective is considerably larger. “ This project lays the foundation for achieving the goal of 7 GW of offshore capacity by 2040 ,” the official statement indicates.
The 425 MW awarded represent approximately 6.1% of that national target . To cover the difference, Colombia would need to promote successive bidding rounds, secure additional areas, develop port infrastructure, and coordinate the expansion of transmission with the schedules of future wind farms.
The financial challenge will also be significant. While it is not accurate to linearly extrapolate the budget of one initiative to the entire goal—because costs vary according to depth, distance to coast, technology, and scale— the 7 GW ambition anticipates cumulative investments of several billion dollars .
From the energy promise to a new offshore industry
The competitive bidding process was designed to grant temporary occupancy permits for offshore wind power generation in maritime areas. The ANH maintains that the bidding round is part of the instruments created to accelerate non-conventional renewable energy sources under the Just Energy Transition strategy.
“ This project, with an investment of nearly USD 1 billion, will boost job creation, technology transfer and the development of a new industry for the country, ” the government statement said.
The industrial scale goes beyond simply installing wind turbines. An offshore supply chain requires ports capable of handling large components, specialized vessels, underwater electrical infrastructure, engineering services, environmental monitoring, and personnel certified to work offshore.
“ It will boost job creation ,” the government emphasizes when describing one of the expected impacts. The realization of this objective will depend on the level of local content the project achieves and Colombia's capacity to capture manufacturing, assembly, operation, and maintenance activities.
The ANH states that the terms of the bidding round aim to reflect the current state of the offshore wind industry and attract international capital, leveraging the country's geographic location and renewable energy resources. The agency also links the process to emissions reduction and the technological transformation of the energy sector.
“ This development will allow us to diversify the energy mix ,” the government maintains. This diversification will be especially important for reducing the system's exposure to hydrological variations, although offshore energy will need to be complemented by transmission, operational flexibility, and backup mechanisms.