The combination of increased demand, renewable energy growth, and extreme weather events is forcing the world's electrical systems to evolve toward more flexible, digital, and resilient networks. For Colombia, the current situation presents an opportunity to accelerate the modernization of its electrical infrastructure and strengthen its capacity to respond to phenomena such as El Niño, according to experts from Hitachi Energy, a leading global provider of solutions for the electricity sector.
This is especially relevant in a country moving towards a profound transformation of its energy system. In recent years, the incorporation of non-conventional renewable energies in Colombia has grown significantly, reaching 13.8% of the national energy mix, according to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, with a sustained increase in solar and wind projects in different regions of the country.
However, this transformation is occurring amidst a challenging situation for the electricity sector. As the country faces the arrival of a new El Niño phenomenon, energy demand continues to grow. In May 2026 alone, national consumption increased by 8.75% compared to the same month of the previous year, reaching a record high of 261.86 GWh/day, according to data from XM .
In addition, the Colombian electricity system continues to depend mainly on hydroelectric generation, which represents about 62% of the country's installed capacity, so prolonged periods of drought can increase the pressure on the reliability of the supply.
In the so-called Age of Electricity, a concept describing the increasing replacement of fossil fuels with electricity in sectors such as industry, transportation, and data centers, the challenge is no longer just generating more energy. It also requires driving the energy transition across the entire electricity grid, from generation to the end consumer. This involves strengthening networks, expanding storage capacity, and digitizing electrical systems to address the energy trilemma: ensuring security, sustainability, and affordability simultaneously.
The new challenge: maintaining the quality and stability of the network
The accelerated integration of renewable energy sources introduces a new variable for electricity operators: generation is increasingly dependent on natural resources such as wind and solar radiation, whose availability fluctuates throughout the day. In this context, technologies like battery energy storage systems (BESS) play a key role by providing flexibility to the electricity system, allowing for a balance between supply and demand, optimizing the use of renewable energy, and strengthening grid reliability.
"Colombia is entering a new stage of the energy transition. The challenge is no longer just to incorporate more renewable capacity; it is to ensure that this energy can be integrated into the grid without compromising the stability of the system. As the participation of variable technologies increases, solutions such as energy storage and advanced power control cease to be an option and become a necessity," says Marcelo Schumacker, General Manager Grid Integration LAM (Latin America) at Hitachi Energy.
Two technologies gaining global traction in addressing this challenge are battery energy storage systems (BESS) and dynamic voltage compensation (STATCOM). BESS systems allow energy to be stored when there is a surplus of generation (for example, during peak solar production hours) and released later when demand increases or renewable energy production decreases.
For their part, STATCOM systems act in milliseconds to regulate voltage and compensate for disturbances in the network, helping to avoid fluctuations that can affect both industrial users and electrical operators.
International experience for networks with high renewable energy participation
Globally, these types of solutions already play a fundamental role in the stability of electrical grids. Hitachi Energy has participated in energy storage and grid control projects in markets such as Australia, Japan, and the United States .
One of the most representative examples is the storage system the company supplies to strengthen grids with a high share of renewable energy in Australia , considered one of the world's most advanced markets in solar and wind power integration. Likewise, its solutions are part of the world's longest AC ground-based power project in Norway , and in other markets where flexibility and stability have become critical factors for electrical operations.
An opportunity to strengthen Colombia's energy resilience
Faced with the arrival of a new El Niño phenomenon, sustained growth in electricity demand, and increased participation of renewable energy sources, Colombia must accelerate the adoption of energy storage and grid stabilization solutions. Technologies such as battery energy storage systems (BESS) and dynamic voltage compensation can help strengthen the reliability of the electrical system, integrate more clean energy, and respond more resiliently to extreme weather events.
"We can no longer think solely in terms of megawatts of generation. The energy discussion in the coming years will focus on the grid's capacity to adapt to growing demand, safely integrate renewables, and respond to increasingly frequent weather events. Grid resilience will be one of the main indicators of competitiveness and energy security for the country," Schumacker concludes.