Experience

UK PACT (2019 - 2020)
USD 576.000

Organizations
Universidad de los Andes

Summary
Provide multidisciplinary science-based criteria and analytic methodologies to strengthen the design of instruments that support smart and resilient urban development in Colombia to comply with the NDC in consistency with global south cities’ priorities and local environmental targets.

EPRI (2018-2019)
USD 127.500

Organizations
Universidad de los Andes

Summary
Universidad de Los Andes will provide support to EPRI in the initial regulatory assessment and regulatory market analysis for the USTDA-CELSIA BESS Feasibility Study. Universidad de Los Andes will further support the development of code, documentation and software tools and carry out testing and validation for different stages of the Feasibility Study. Support for data analysis and comparative analysis of markets and regulatory frameworks under EPRI supervision and guidance will also be provided by Universidad de Los Andes.

ISAGEN (2016-2019)
USD 260.000

Organizations
Centro Internacional de Física
Universidad de los Andes
Universidad Nacional
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
Codensa

Summary
The team is in charge of developing a microgrid for two different communities in La Guajira. The solutions involve fotovoltaic panels, wind turbines, and batteries amongst others. The first part of the project deals with the contact with the communities and their interests. Based on these issues, we have developed with Senergysol the basic solutions that would help most of the people in these “rancherías”. The last part of the project is the implementation. For that, all the designs and blueprints generated by the university are handed to SunColombia for the physical implementation. The project has been delivered on 03/20/19, and since then we are monitoring and improving the solution with the community.  

Departamento de Nariño - Sistema General de Regalías (2015-2019)
USD 1’720.000

Organizations
Centro Internacional de Física
Universidad de los Andes
Universidad Nacional
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
Codensa

Summary
The team is in charge of developing different strategies for smart lighting in 9 small towns in Cundinamarca. Specifically, the universities are in charge of developing microgrids solutions for 5 schools in 3 different small towns of Cundinamarca (Nimaima, Caparrapí, and Medina). These solutions should use solar PVs, and the basic engineering for control and supervision of these schools is also developed. Basic research in the development and implementation of networked microgrids is being developed.

Departamento de Nariño - Sistema General de Regalías (2014-2016)
USD 1’372.000 

Organizations
Universidad de los Andes
Universidad de Nariño
ASC Ingeniería

Summary
In the region of Nariño, and using the results obtained in the project PERS Nariño (funded by UPME), the team had to identify the main sources in 15 “municipios” that were selected based on geographical aspects, direct measurements and statistics. A feasible solution based on microgrids and distributed generation was designed for a specific zone. Since Universidad de Nariño (UN) is a college that handles the people in the south west of the country, it is paramount that the students have the opportunity to learn about energy concepts. That is why during the project, Universidad de los Andes has helped in the development of an area in energy, using the microgrid that could be implemented in the main campus of UN.

Emgesa-Codensa-Endesa-Colciencias
Phase I - Feb 2008 - Sept 2009 
Phase II - Jan 2010 - Sept 2011 
Phase III - Sept 2012 - May 2015
USD 1'875.000

Organizations
Universidad de los Andes
Universidad Nacional
Universidad Industrial de Santander
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
CIDET

Summary
In the last decade, the electrical system faced new challenges that are changing its current "passive" structure. The penetration of distributed generators and the technological changes in telecommunications, control and automation, and market systems, are redefining the electrical grid concept. These smart grids are self-healing networks with real-time measurements, two-way communication systems, which use distributed optimization techniques to control, maintain voltage/frequency levels, taking into account the demand response. In this way, the grid will minimize its losses, and become more robust. Also, the users will have the advantage of becoming more active, which will lead to better choices and a permanent interaction with the electrical companies.

However, the inherent regulatory, economical, and geographical limitations of each country can limit the implementation of these smart grids. That is why, since 2007 several universities have decided to study the impact of the smart grid concept in a Colombian context. Universidad de los Andes, Universidad Nacional, and recently Universidad Industrial de Santander and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, have created a research group called SILICE. This research group has been supported since 2007 by a private energy company (Emgesa-Codensa-Endesa) and the state (Colciencias), in order to study several topics in the impact of the smart grid in Colombia. Some of these topics include:

• Distributed Generation
• Transmission and distribution of energy
• Distributed optimization, control, and automation systems
• Communication systems
• Information management
• Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI)
• Demand response
• Smart buildings