AZIMUT ENERGY NEWSLETTER – JUNE 2023
What is happening with energy prices in Colombia?
From the beginning of 2017 to the end of 2022, energy tariffs have grown by 41%, while general inflation and the minimum wage have only grown by 30% and 36% respectively.
From the beginning of 2017 to the end of 2022, energy tariffs have grown by 41%, while general inflation and the minimum wage have only grown by 30% and 36% respectively. Only in the In the first 4 months of 2023, energy prices have already grown half as much as they did in 2022 and are expected to continue to grow for the next four months. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has reported that the El Niño phenomenon , which, according to began on June 8 and its effects are expected to intensify as of 2024, contributing to warmer years.
Industrial Sector: Ideas to save energy in my company
Compressed air: 20% to 40% savings through leakage control in industry.
- Eliminating 100% of compressed air leaks can be considered a Herculean task; however, at Azimut we understand the cost of these leaks and make data-driven decisions.
- Correlating the production and energy consumed by compressed air systems allows estimating these costs.
- In the following graph we associate 3 years of production with the electrical energy consumed by the air compressors.
- A strong correlation was found: about 1,700 kWh/day are associated with leakage and/or non-productive activities, which represents an estimated 40,000 kWh/month in energy not associated with production.
- In economic terms, it could represent 192M COP (not counting the accelerated growth it could have this year).
Solar energy: Savings between 20% and 30% in the price per kWh.
What should I consider when evaluating the possibility of purchasing solar energy?
- Average energy consumption and price per kWh: Information available on the utility bill.
- Type of area where I consider that I could install the project: concrete slab, green area, tiled roof, metal structure, etc.
- Geographic location.
With this information you can estimate the possible size of the project, for that we share some tips:
- One kWp (Kilowatt peak): basic unit of measurement of the “size” of a solar project requires about five square meters (5 m2) to be installed.
- One kWp can generate between 90 and 120 kWh/month on average depending on the area of the country where the project is installed.
- Installing one kWp connected to the grid can cost between US$900 and US$1,200, depending on the size of the project and its particularities.
- The bearing capacity of the area where the panels are to be installed must be at least 18 kg/m2.
It is important to clarify that these tips are indicative but quickly give an idea of whether or not I can mount solar energy and what the size of the system could be. However, it will always be better to have the evaluation of each specific project carried out by a suitable company.
