Let's make the project happen
You are organized and formalized. Now it is time to decide what type of project to build, with whom, with what funding, and with what permits. The community does not install anything: the community decides, oversees, and learns.
What type of project?
It depends on what you have available: rooftop, land, water, budget, and needs.
1 - Rooftop solar
Panels on the roof of the school, the health center, the community hall, or the church.
Advantages
- No additional land needed.
- The community building reduces or eliminates its own electricity bill.
- Surplus energy is distributed among members or sold to the grid.
- The fastest option: 4 to 8 weeks of construction.
Things to consider
- The roof must be in good condition and able to support the weight. An engineer evaluates this.
- Needs favorable orientation, without shade.
- Typical capacity: 10 to 50 kWp, enough for 15 to 75 families.
Ideal for: urban or semi-urban communities with community buildings that have large roofs.
2 - Ground-mount solar
A community solar plant on owned, communal, municipal, or leased land.
Advantages
- Higher capacity than rooftops: 50 to 500 kWp or more.
- Can serve more families.
- Easier to maintain and expand later.
Things to consider
- Needs available land: owned, communal, municipal, or leased.
- Land use must be verified with the municipal government.
- Requires fencing for security.
- Typical capacity: 50 to 500 kWp, enough for 75 to 750 families.
Ideal for: rural communities with available land.
3 - Solar on public buildings
Panels on schools, health centers, municipal offices, or police stations. The community is co-owner.
Advantages
- The municipal government can facilitate permits and support.
- Reduces operating costs for public buildings: savings for the municipality.
- High visibility: the community sees the panels every day.
Things to consider
- Requires a formal agreement with the municipal government or the entity that owns the building.
- Ownership and benefits must be clearly spelled out in a contract. Do not leave it to a handshake.
Ideal for: communities with a good relationship with the municipal government.
4 - Micro-hydro
A small turbine that generates electricity using the force of a river or stream.
Advantages
- Generates energy 24 hours a day: does not depend on sunlight.
- Proven technology in rural areas of Colombia.
- Can complement a solar system.
Things to consider
- Requires a sufficient and constant water flow.
- Requires environmental permits from the CAR (regional environmental authority).
- More technically complex than solar.
Ideal for: rural communities with rivers or streams with good flow.
How to decide? Answer these questions
- Do you have a large community rooftop (more than 100 m2) in good condition? → Option 1
- Do you have available land (more than 500 m2)? → Option 2
- Is the municipal government willing to lend public buildings? → Option 3
- Do you have a river or stream with good flow nearby? → Option 4
- None of the above? → Consult with CleantechHUB to explore alternatives.
Most communities start with Option 1 because it is the fastest and simplest. Afterward, they can grow to Option 2 or combine several.
Finding the operator
An energy cooperative does not build the panels itself. It needs a technical operator: a specialized company that designs, installs, and maintains the system. CleantechHUB connects you.
Unergy
Investment platform for distributed solar energy. Has experience in community projects in Colombia.
Coverage: nationwide, based in Antioquia.
Pricing: no upfront cost for users.
First mover in regulated energy communities in Colombia.
Request a quoteCelsia (Grupo Argos)
One of Colombia's leading energy generators. Has distributed solar energy programs with a national presence.
Coverage: Valle del Cauca, Antioquia, Tolima, Sucre, Bolivar, Cordoba, Casanare, Cauca.
Pricing: distributed generation from 1 kWp, with 1-6 year financing.
First large-scale solar farm in the country: Yumbo, 2017.
Request a quoteErco Energia
Colombian company specializing in solar solutions for the commercial and industrial sector, with experience in distributed projects.
Coverage: Tolima, Cesar, Norte de Santander, Cundinamarca, Meta, Antioquia.
Pricing: Not disclosed
Largest solar developer in Colombia by market share.
Request a quoteThese are the three operators the Community Playbook names directly. There are more: see all 7 full profiles →
Eight questions to ask the operator
- How many similar projects have you installed? Can we visit one?
- What brand of panels and inverters do you use? What is the warranty?
- How much energy will the system produce? Can you show us the projections?
- Who handles maintenance? What is included and what is not?
- What happens if the panels do not produce what was promised?
- How much does it all cost? What payment options are there?
- How long does the installation take?
- Will you train us for basic maintenance?
Red flags: watch out for these operators
- They promise exaggerated savings (more than 80% of the electricity bill).
- They cannot show previous projects or references.
- They ask for upfront payments without a formal contract.
- They do not include a performance guarantee.
- They have no experience in the Colombian market.
- They do not want to work with the energy community structure and CPC.
What the contract must say
CleantechHUB helps negotiate and review the contract. Key points: technical specifications of the system (brand, capacity, guaranteed output); installation schedule with clear dates; manufacturer warranties (25 years on panels, 10 years on inverters) and operator warranties (minimum 2 years on installation); maintenance terms (what, how often, who pays); minimum performance guarantee; equipment ownership clearly defined; and termination conditions.
The community does not put up all the money. Not even close.
Each family's contribution ranges from COP 100,000 to COP 500,000, and that is the only out-of-pocket cost. The rest comes from public co-financing, green credit, and institutional investment.
Where does the money come from?
The good news: your community does not have to put up all the money. Not even close.
How much does a typical project cost?
| Project type | Capacity | Families benefited | Approximate cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rooftop solar | 20 kWp | 30 - 50 families | COP 80 - 120 million |
| Small ground-mount solar | 50 kWp | 75 - 120 families | COP 180 - 280 million |
| Medium ground-mount solar | 100 kWp | 150 - 250 families | COP 350 - 500 million |
From five pockets to your project
Community contributions
5 - 10%
COP 100,000 - 500,000 per family. You receive dividends. This is the only out-of-pocket cost.
FENOGE and public funds
15 - 25%
Co-financing: non-repayable. Can cover up to 70% in rural and vulnerable communities.
Bancoldex / Findeter credit
10 - 20%
Loan: repaid from project revenue. Preferential rates, 10-15 year terms.
Institutional investors
50 - 60%
Investment: recovered through profits. Enter via the Trust Fund.
Patrimonio Autonomo (the trust fund)
A recognized fiduciary manages the fund. The project money is segregated and protected: neither CleantechHUB nor anyone else can use it for anything else. Each project has its own sub-account.
Your solar project
Revenue (energy sales, savings) flows back to the trust fund and is distributed according to clear rules: first operating expenses, then debt service, and then profits: 30% for the community, 70% for investors.
Community Participation Certificates
Your CPC (Community Participation Certificate) is your ownership title over the 30% community share of the project. Each certificate is worth COP 1,000,000 and gives you the right to:
- Receive your proportional share of 30% of the project's profits.
- Vote at the association's assembly: one member, one vote, regardless of how many certificates you hold.
- Transfer your certificates to another community member if you withdraw.
- Convert your certificates into cooperative shares when the community formalizes as a cooperative.
Tax benefits (Ley 1715 / 2099)
Solar projects qualify for income tax deductions (up to 50% of the investment value), VAT exemption on solar equipment, and customs duty exemption on imported equipment. These benefits significantly reduce the real cost of the project -- and that is why the list price is not the price the community ends up paying.
About dividends, honestly
The Playbook estimates dividends of between 5% and 8% per year on your contribution. That is a projection from the financial model, not a guaranteed return or an investment offer. It depends on how much energy the project produces, what tariff the grid operator pays, and whether operating costs stay where they were projected.
In the trust fund's payment waterfall, the community collects after operating expenses and debt service. If the project produces less in a given year, dividends go down. That is also part of being an owner.
Four months, step by step
The permits should not scare you: most are handled by the technical operator with CleantechHUB support.
| Procedure | Month 1 | Month 2 | Month 3 | Month 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technical design | ||||
| Municipal permit | ||||
| Grid connection request | ||||
| Construction | ||||
| RETIE certification | ||||
| Commissioning |
The community provides
- Authorization to use the rooftop or land
- Members' electricity bills
- Assembly minutes authorizing the project
- Access to the site during construction
- RUCE registration
The operator and CTH handle
- Technical design of the system
- Construction permit (2-4 weeks)
- RETIE certification (electrical safety standard)
- Grid connection request (30-90 days)
- CREG registration
One less thing to worry about
An environmental license is only required for projects over 10 MW: far larger than a typical community project. Community projects (20 to 500 kWp) do not need an environmental license.
Four weeks of work
The most exciting moment has arrived. Tap each week.
-
The operator's technical team arrives at the site and evaluates the roof or land one last time. If necessary, they reinforce the roof structure. They install the mounting structure: the metal rails where the panels are mounted.
-
The panels are mounted on the support structure. Each panel weighs between 18 and 22 kilograms. A team of 4 to 6 people can install a 20 kWp system in 3 to 5 days.
-
The inverters are installed, the electrical wiring is done, the bidirectional meter (which measures both the energy consumed and the energy fed into the grid) is installed, and the monitoring system is connected.
-
Functional tests are performed. The certified engineer conducts the RETIE inspection. The system is connected to the grid (with authorization from the grid operator). The system is turned on and everything is verified to be working.
Organize an inauguration. It is more than a celebration: it is a symbolic moment that strengthens the sense of community ownership. Invite the community, the municipal government, the operator, and CleantechHUB. Turn the system on for the first time in public. Take photos and video.
The community's role during construction
The community does not install the panels -- that is what the technicians do -- but it has an important role:
- Oversight: designate one or two people from the Technical Committee to be present during installation. Not to supervise technically, but to make sure agreements are being respected and to report anomalies.
- Access: guarantee free access to the site during working hours.
- Security: if equipment arrives before installation, help safeguard it.
- Documentation: take photos of the process. It serves as the community's record and to inspire others.
- Training: ask the operator to train 2 or 3 community members in basic maintenance. Insist on this.
Construction verification checklist
Fourteen points the community observer checks off. Do not sign the acceptance certificate until all are complete.
Are you generating now?
Now comes the good part: you are owners. Time to learn how to read the dashboard, do the maintenance, and keep the books.