| Work Detail |
The Ecuadorian government, through the Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Ecuadorian Electric Corporation (CELEC), began the so-called socialization process of this plant that will be located in the Zapotillo canton, Loja province. The Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Electric Corporation of Ecuador (CELEC) have presented the La Ceiba solar project, with an installed capacity of 200 MW, to be located in the Zapotillo canton, Loja province. According to the ministry, the project will cover an area of ??322 hectares and involves the installation of more than 400,000 solar panels, 38 inverters and a 34.5/230 kV substation, with the forecast of producing 396.8 GWh/year. According to a statement, so far, pre-feasibility studies have been carried out and work is continuing on the socialization forms, soil studies and environmental licensing for the plant and transmission line. It is claimed that the province of Loja is identified by the Solar Map of Ecuador, presented in February 2024 , as the region with the greatest solar potential in the country, with a global irradiation of 5,700 Wh/m²/day. The ministry says that this project is part of the national plan that seeks to attract private investment for the development of renewable projects such as the Matala photovoltaic project (100 MW) and the Villonaco II wind project (80 MW). In January of last year, Celec presented a study, carried out in cooperation with the French Development Agency (AFD), in which locations were identified to develop seven solar projects in the country for a total of 1,580 MWp . It should be remembered that the country is immersed in a serious energy crisis that has already lasted for months, with officially decreed night blackouts to reduce consumption. In this context , the National Assembly of Ecuador approved last October the Organic Law Project to Promote Private Initiative in Energy Generation , promoted by the Government and described as urgent in economic matters. Its aim is to stimulate the implementation of renewable energy generation solutions and also promote private investment in the energy sector. According to data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), by 2023, Ecuador had a total installed electrical capacity of 8,901 MW, with an energy matrix mostly dominated by hydroelectric generation (5,430 MW), a large contribution from fossil fuels (2,062 MW) and a meager renewable presence, both photovoltaic (25 MW) and wind (66 MW), although with moderate bioenergy (153 MW). |
