The Colombian Air Force, together with EPM, inaugurated on Thursday, August 4, 2022, a new photovoltaic solar system that will replace 34 percent of the energy of the Rionegro Base, headquarters of the Air Combat Command No.5, CACOM 5, in Rionegro, Antioquia.
In this phase of operational efficiency and energy transition that progresses in the Air Force, were planted 478 panels on the ground, for a total capacity of 260.5 kWp, which will generate 353.02 MWh/year and will prevent during operation the emission of 932 tonnes of CO2, which is equivalent to the planting of annual 2,494 trees, and the consumption by 172 houses; the CACOM 5 is the second of five air bases that have a supply of electrical energy to non-conventional renewable by EPM (Public Enterprises of Medellin).
This solar park, which will take all of the radiation that is generated in the valley of San Nicolás was put into operation in the framework of a ceremony that was attended by the minister of Mines and Energy, Diego Mesa Puyo; the commander of the Colombian Air Force, major general Pablo Enrique Garcia Valencia and the Manager of Commercial issues of EPM, Fabio Rivera, accompanied by high-ranking military officers, Government officials, and EPM representatives.
Implementation is progressing
In March 2022, the operation of the photovoltaic solar park of the Palanquero Air Base was inaugurated at the Air Combat Command No.1 (Puerto Salgar – Cundinamarca). In the coming weeks, solar photovoltaic systems will be built at the No.3 (Malambo - Atlantic), No.4 (Melgar - Tolima) and in the facilities of the Amazonas Air Group (Leticia - Amazonas).
With these five solutions, the Colombian Air Force will accumulate a capacity of 4.2 MWp and a power generation of 6.2 GWh/year, which represents an important contribution to the conservation of the environment and energy transition carry out by the National Government, to prevent the annual emission of 961,2 tons of CO2, which is equivalent to the planting of 51,436 trees, and the consumption of 2,998 houses.
Source: Press - Colombian Air Force
