Two students from Eafit University decided to create a company nine years ago that would allow Colombians to generate their own energy, store it and even sell the surplus to the local grid and have an extra income.

Thus, with their savings, Juan Esteban Hincapie and Juan Camilo Lopez gave life to Erco Energia, a company that was born from a degree project and that seeks to be a leader in the country in the development of photovoltaic solar energy projects for energy production electricity, as well as solar thermal energy that allows the heating of industrial, commercial and residential processes.

“When we were students we worked a lot on energy and we saw an opportunity in solar energy. So it was that with our savings we bought some equipment and began to sell our systems to relatives and close people, “said Hincapeé, one of the founders of the company.

Erco Energia currently has more than 1,196 users (1,504 homes and 408 businesses and industries), among which are large companies such as Bancolombia, Avinal, Comfama, Bosi and Estra.

“We have developed more than 1,196 projects throughout Colombia and we have nationwide coverage with offices in Medellín, Bogotá, Cartagena, Cali, Eje Cafetero, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga and Cucuta. And internationally we have offices in Panama City and San Antonio, Texas ”, Hincapie commented.

Likewise, these enterprising countries have developed around 800 charging infrastructure projects for electric vehicles and around 100 for energy storage.

The pandemic made them stronger

The months of confinement due to quarantines filled the company with uncertainty. According to Hincapie, these were days when teleworking and not being able to go out to carry out projects, which are the basis of the business, made the company stumble.

“We did not know how we would fare with all the employees working remotely, because we had never done it all at the same time, but in the end the goal we set ourselves was to protect the jobs and in the end we did not remove anyone because of the pandemic. Then came the reactivation, and it helped us to push sales a lot and to improve all the indicators we had. We were able to close 2020 with a 52% growth in sales, “said Hincapie.

More energy and growth
With the dream of installing solar energy on the roofs of companies and houses, the two entrepreneurs built a company whose vision for 2025 is to be a leader in the implementation and management of clean, reliable and economical energy solutions.

Now, the company already has 155 employees and expects to close this year with $ 65,000 million in sales. Its growth projections include achieving around $ 130 billion in sales next year, as well as consolidating its offices in Texas and Panama, and exploring other markets in South America.

More than challenges
Hincapie and Lopez see more opportunities than challenges in the energy sector, since they consider that it has a lot of growth potential and that it has become a priority for governments.

“We are at a time when all governments are paying attention and investing in renewable energy. The regulations and laws that are coming out in the matter of energy transition are greatly supporting the growth of renewable energies. In addition, people are understanding that these are necessary to avoid climate change and to save money. There is a promising future for this type of initiative, ”Hincapie noted.

And he stressed that people are understanding that they are free to choose who to buy energy from, and that when deciding to switch to solar energy, scenarios such as generating the energy that is consumed and even storing it, selling the surplus that is produced at home to the local network itself, have an extra income or reduce the payment of a bill.