Colombia continues to add important milestones to promote sustainable mobility beyond the major capitals. In this sense, the community of Mingueo, in the township of Dibulla in La Guajira, experienced the launching of the first community electric station in the country.
It is a shared solar charging station for electric motorcycles equipped with 12 solar panels of 6.5 kWp, seven 24 kWh lithium batteries and a 6 kW single-phase inverter.
The achievement marks a significant step towards the adoption of renewable technologies in both urban and rural settings, as well as a crucial boost for the just energy transition.
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Partnership Goals
The initiative was led by the POLEN Just Transitions center, supported by Drive Electric Campaign’s Leapfrogging to E-mobility Acceleration Partership (LEAP) Fund and the support of the Junta de Acción Comunal of the San Martin neighborhood.
The milestone reflects the teamwork of civil society and the Mingueo community to drive electromobility. The collaboration of the community was fundamental in this pioneering project, as evidenced by the cession of a space in the community house for the electric station and their participation in the installation.
During the inauguration and start-up of this project on April 16, members of the POLEN Just Transitions team emphasized the positive impact of this initiative on local families and the job creation opportunities for the region.
In addition, they highlighted the importance of this solar charging station as a crucial step towards a future beyond fossil fuels, prioritizing renewable energy sources for Mingueo to ensure the affordability of electric transportation.