Description

Ambiente Solar is a company that contributes towards environmental sustainability by designing solar energy systems for individuals, businesses, and communities.

Since 2016, the promoter has focused on the design, construction, and implementation of solar energy systems. In 2024, Ambiente Solar is taking advantage of legal and tax incentives for renewable energy investments in Colombia by launching a project to build six mini solar farms. These farms will help produce clean energy and help reduce carbon emissions.

This campaign goal is to raise the necessary funds to co-finance the construction of its first mini solar farm, which will generate 1 megawatt-hour of electricity.

When compared to major solar parks, a mini farm takes up smaller pieces of land and has non-invasive construction processes, reducing the infrastructure's environmental and social impact on surrounding communities. For this reason, Colombian legislation allows designing and building mini solar farms, that generate up to 1 Megabyte of energy, without environmental licenses or community approval. In addition, national regulation requires energy distribution companies to purchase the energy generated from renewable sources to diversify the composition of the country's energy matrix.

Ambiente Solar has established the optimal geographical locations to build six mini farms using specialized software to find land that historically secures constant and direct solar radiation for most of the year. Once the location has been selected, the promoter analyzes the access roads and proximity to the energy connection lines and then purchases the land. After this, their team of engineers defines the sizing of each mini farm and designs the equipment infrastructure necessary to collect solar radiation, generate electrical energy, and connect to the grid. Subsequently, the land is adapted according to the design, the equipment is negotiated with strategic suppliers and they proceed with the installation process. Finally, the necessary connections are made so that Ambiente Solar can either sell the energy, or the mini farm itself. 

The Impact

Direct 

• Contribution to the decarbonisation of Colombia, avoiding CO2 emissions: With a total production of clean energy of over 1,570 MWh per year, the solar plant will avoid the emission of about 243 tonnes of CO2 per year. This is equivalent to the CO2 absorption of more than 11,000 trees.
• Sustainable and resilient food production systems: Ambiente Solar implements an agrivoltaic solution - in which photovoltaic panels coexist with agricultural activity on the same plot of land. The developer establishes a partnership with local farmers who will manage and work the land and receive full income from their harvests. In the installation in Momil by Ambiente Solar, two farmers will grow pineapples and melons on each mini solar farm, cultivating an area of around 900m2.

Indirect

• Promoting sustainable business: the project developed by Ambiente Solar is an example of the applicability of solar energy integrated with agricultural solutions and inserted into the needs of a community, with two main social and environmental responsibility projects. The first consists of donating a solar system worth 15,000€ to a school or community center for each mini solar farm built. Once the mini-farm financed by this campaign has been built, the promoter locates the organization to be benefited with the municipality of Momil.
  And the second initiative consists of planting one tree for every one million Colombian pesos (around €230) invested in solar energy projects. This campaign began in 2022, and so far the Ambiente Solar team has planted 15,200 trees in the Antioquia region of Colombia. All employees and their families take part in this project, ant the planting happens under the supervision of the environmental authority of the Antioquia region - CORANTIOQUIA.

Impact Indicators

242,96 t

CO2 avoided per year

0,09

Hectares for biodiversity

1.577,7

MWh clean energy

Contribution to the Sustainable
Development Goals

Sustainable Development Goals

Financial viability

The investment return plan is set for 5 years, with a 6-month grace period. Payments will be made in monthly installments of principal and interest starting from the 7th month. The company will contribute 23% of the initial investment value, while 77% will be financed by investors. Project revenues will increase annually due to projected energy rate hikes and the country's inflation.

Download the Financial Statements document related to the promoter here: Financial Statements - Ambiente Solar.pdf

Download Key Investment Information Sheet

Guarantees

Loans granted to the promoter Ambiente Solar S.A.S. by investors will have the following guarantees, provided for in the loan agreements associated with the campaign:

• Personal guarantee of 50% from the shareholders of Ambiente Solar S.A.S.
• 1st degree mortgage on 1 plot of land in Momil, Córdoba, Colombia, with the Certificate of Ownership from the Colombian Land Registry and Public Instruments Office under number 146-17972, valued by the architect with registration M.P. No. A23032000 - 1502873, for 221.319.910 Colombian pesos (which corresponds to 50.223,45 euros using the conversion rate of 22/07/2024).
• 1st degree commercial pledge of movable assets (solar panels, inverters and support structures to be installed).

The start of the payment plan for this project may be delayed: Following Goparity's risk mitigation procedures, once the project is successfully funded the mortgage will be registered in the Colombian Property Registry. The process may take from one week to up to six weeks, depending on local procedures. To protect your investment, only after the mortgage has been officiated will the investment agreements be generated, funds be made available to the Promoter, and payment plan start. Learn more: What happens after a campaign closes?

The Promoter

About Ambiente Solar SAS

In 2016, Julian Echavarria decided to enter the market with a comprehensive offer for photovoltaic energy generation solutions by founding Ambiente Solar. 

In the eight years that followed, Ambiente Solar has developed projects for public sector companies such as SENA (with a 3 million dollar budget), and private sector companies such as Promigas (worth 1.25 million dollars). Ambiente Solar has co-financed solar energy systems worth 1 million dollars through leasing, alongside Davivienda, Bancolombia, and BBVA banks.

The company has its offices and its main warehouse in the city of Sabaneta in Antioquia, where they hire 55 employees, most of them concentrated in the technical and commercial areas which are the central focuses of their operation.

The team

Julián Esteban Echavarría

CEO of Ambiente Solar. Electrical and Electronics Engineer.

Master's in Renewable Energies from the Environmental Training Institute. Specialist in project management. With over 15 years of experience implementing photovoltaic solutions, he is one of the pioneers in establishing a solar farm in Panama. Julian Echavarria owns 100% of Ambiente Solar's shares.

Andrés Felipe Loaiza

Project Director. Electrical and Electronics Engineer.

With over 15 years of experience implementing photovoltaic solutions, he is one of the pioneers in establishing a solar farm in Santander de Quilichao, Colombia.

Ana María Pino

Commercial Director

With over 10 years of experience providing photovoltaic solutions for both business and residential clients.

Mauricio Mejía

Administrative and Financial Director

With over 20 years of experience in the financial structuring of projects.

Business Model

Updates