Regulation, paperwork and institutions
Self-generation
Also known as: self-consumption, distributed generation.
Definition
Self-generation is producing your own electricity for your own consumption, for example with solar panels. In Colombia, small-scale self-generation has a specific regulatory framework that allows connection to the grid and the export of surplus.
Sources: Resolución CREG 174 de 2021 (net metering regulation) (opens in a new tab)
The key idea is the destination of the energy: a self-generator produces mainly to cover their own consumption, not to sell. That purpose is what distinguishes a self-generator from a commercial generator and what justifies a simpler regulatory regime, with connection requirements proportionate to the size of the installation.
The Colombian framework organises the category by scale. Small-scale self-generation has simplified connection conditions and access to surplus offsetting; above certain capacity thresholds, the requirements and the procedure are more demanding. The specific thresholds are set by the regulation in force, and it is the grid operator that determines which regime applies to a project.
Self-generating does not mean disconnecting from the grid. In practice, most Colombian projects combine their own generation with a grid connection, using the existing infrastructure as backup and as the destination for surplus.
The essentials of Self-generation
- The energy is produced mainly for the owner's own consumption.
- The applicable regime depends on the scale of the installation.
- Small scale has simplified connection conditions.
- Self-generating is compatible with staying connected to the grid.
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Frequently asked questions about Self-generation
Are self-generation and self-consumption the same thing?
In everyday language they are used as synonyms. In Colombian regulatory usage, self-generation is the formal category — someone producing energy mainly for their own consumption — while self-consumption describes the share of that energy actually used on site rather than exported to the grid.
Do I need permission to self-generate with solar panels?
If you are going to connect to the grid, yes: you have to apply for connection with the grid operator for your area, which reviews the design and authorises it. A completely off-grid system does not require that connection process, but it does have to meet the applicable electrical safety requirements.
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