IRENA estimated that Ecuador solar energy market produced 31 MW of electricity from PV solar energy in 2023, with 25 MW connected to the grid and 6.4 MW operating off-grid. ¹⁰

The Electricity Corporation of Ecuador (CELEC) has identified seven solar projects across four provinces, with a combined potential capacity of 1,580 MW. ¹¹

Hydropower: 1.47 USD/kWh (2019) ¹²

Solar Energy: 0.1342 USD/kWh (2020) ¹³

In 2022, the total installed capacity was 8,832 MW. Large hydro was the largest contributor with 4,560 MW, accounting for 51.63% of the total. Oil & diesel followed with 2,494.8 MW (28.25%), and natural gas added 943.9 MW (10.69%). Small hydro contributed 631.3 MW (7.15%), biomass & waste provided 152.3 MW (1.72%), solar PV added 28.7 MW (0.32%), and wind accounted for 21 MW (0.24%). ¹⁴

Electricity Generation:

In 2022, the total electricity generation was approximately 33,000 GWh. Large hydro was the largest contributor with 21,262.6 GWh, accounting for 64.42% of the total. Oil & diesel followed with 6,862.8 GWh (20.79%), and small hydro generated 3,372.6 GWh (10.22%). Natural gas contributed 1,021.5 GWh (3.09%), biomass & waste provided 389.7 GWh (1.18%), wind added 60.6 GWh (0.18%), and solar PV accounted for 38.5 GWh (0.12%).

Projected Renewable Energy:

Ecuador’s Electricity Master Plan for 2018-2027 aims to add 550 MW of solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources by 2027.¹⁵

In 2023, Ecuador announced temporary power cuts of 3 to 4 hours daily due to drought condition. ^{6 7}

Approximately 5,000 photovoltaic (PV) systems have been installed until 2019, particularly in the Amazon region, generating around 0.65 GWh annually. ¹⁶

Installed:

An open-source imagery website has found 7 solar farms operating in Ecuador. ¹⁷

Official documents indicate that 34 solar farms are operating in Ecuador. ¹⁸

Projected:

It is estimated that 4 solar farms are under construction in Ecuador.

IRENA data shows that Ecuador’s average growth rate of off-grid solar energy capacity from 2013 to 2023 is approximately 53.07% per year. ¹⁰

Based on the current growth rate, Ecuador’s projected solar energy capacity for 2028 is calculated as 53.68MW.

A researcher has estimated that Ecuador must produce 4000 MW of solar by 2050 to meet the increasing demand for electricity in Ecuador. ¹⁹

• The average monthly salary of a photovoltaic installer in Ecuador is 761 USD. ²⁰
• The average monthly salary of a photovoltaic Engineer in Ecuador is 1438. ²¹

Ecuador’s estimated population was 18 million (18,162,861) as of September 4, 2024, based on United Nations data measured by Worldometer. ²²

Estimate for Factory Rent: The average monthly rent for industrial properties in Ecuador is estimated to be 4 USD /m²/month. ²³

Industrial Electricity Rates: Commercial electricity rates were USD 0.085 per kWh (as of Dec 2023).

Water Costs: 0.72 USD /m³ (2018) ²⁴

Key Components of Administrative Costs

Salaries and Wages:

• The average monthly salary of a photovoltaic installer in Ecuador is 761 USD. ²⁰
• The average monthly salary of a photovoltaic Engineer in Ecuador is 1438. ²¹

Rent for Office Space: The average monthly rent for office space in Ecuador is estimated to be 12 USD /m²/month. ²⁵

• Total installed electricity generation capacity: 8832 MW ¹⁴
• Total generation:33,000 GWh ¹⁴
• Total consumption: 27702 GWh. ²⁶
• Per capita consumption: 1560 KW. ²⁶
• Renewable Energy Share: 80.96%. ²⁶

Generation mix ¹⁴

Electricity Capacity: In 2022, the total installed capacity was 8,832 MW. Large hydro was the largest contributor with 4,560 MW, accounting for 51.63% of the total. Oil & diesel followed with 2,494.8 MW (28.25%), and natural gas added 943.9 MW (10.69%). Small hydro contributed 631.3 MW (7.15%), biomass & waste provided 152.3 MW (1.72%), solar PV added 28.7 MW (0.32%), and wind accounted for 21 MW (0.24%).

Electricity Generation:

In 2022, the total electricity generation was approximately 33,000 GWh. Large hydro was the largest contributor with 21,262.6 GWh, accounting for 64.42% of the total. Oil & diesel followed with 6,862.8 GWh (20.79%), and small hydro generated 3,372.6 GWh (10.22%). Natural gas contributed 1,021.5 GWh (3.09%), biomass & waste provided 389.7 GWh (1.18%), wind added 60.6 GWh (0.18%), and solar PV accounted for 38.5 GWh (0.12%).

Leading players: ²⁷

The leading players in Ecuador’s electricity sector are the Ministry of Energy and Renewable Resources (MEER), which oversees planning and regulations; ARCONEL, the regulatory body managing technical and economic oversight; CENACE, the system operator responsible for the national grid; and CELEC EP, which handles electricity generation and transmission through various business units.

Transmission & Distribution ²⁸

As of 2021, Ecuador’s transmission network spanned approximately 6,268 kilometers in line length, with a transformer capacity of 16,886 MVA operating at voltage levels between 138 kV and 500 kV. Around 50% of this network comprises of 230 kV lines, making it the dominant voltage level in the country’s power grid.

Major power plants:

Thermal Power Plants:

The top 5 thermal power plants in Ecuador by capacity are the following: ²⁹

Renewable Energy sources

Wind energy:

Some operational wind farms in Ecuador are as following: ³⁰

Hydropower:

Major hydropower plants owned by Corporación Eléctrica del Ecuador (CELEC EP) are as follows: ³¹

Energy Imports:

CELEC, Ecuador’s state-owned electricity provider, imported $400 million worth of electricity from Colombia in 2022. ³²

Ecuador is committed to following international standards for solar energy technologies established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). ³³

• IEC 60904-1: Measurement of current-voltage characteristics for photovoltaic devices.
• IEC 60904-2: Requirements for photovoltaic reference devices.
• IEC 60904-4: Procedures for establishing calibration traceability for reference solar devices.
• IEC 60904-5: Determining the equivalent cell temperature (ECT) of photovoltaic devices using the open-circuit voltage method.
• IEC 60904-7: Calculation of spectral mismatch correction for photovoltaic device measurements.
• IEC 60904-9: Performance requirements for solar simulators used in photovoltaic testing.
• IEC/TS 61836: Terms and symbols used in solar photovoltaic energy systems.
• IEC 61215: Design qualification and type approval for crystalline silicon terrestrial photovoltaic modules.
• IEC 61646: Design qualification and type approval for thin-film terrestrial photovoltaic modules.
• IEC 61701: Salt mist corrosion testing for photovoltaic modules.
• IEC 61724: Guidelines for photovoltaic system performance monitoring, including measurement, data exchange, and analysis.
• IEC 61730-1: Safety qualification requirements for the construction of photovoltaic modules.
• IEC 61730-2: Safety qualification testing requirements for photovoltaic modules.
• IEC 61853-1: Performance testing and energy rating of photovoltaic modules, including irradiance and temperature performance measurements.
• IEC 62108: Design qualification and type approval for concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) modules and assemblies.
• IEC 62253: Design qualification and performance measurements for photovoltaic pumping systems.

Investment: Ecuador government is planning to invest 1.5 billion USD in 7 solar projects across Ecuador. ³⁴

Net metering in Ecuador: Ecuador’s (Arconel) allows net metering for solar power systems up to 300 kW (residential) and 500 kW (industrial). ³⁵

Tax Exemptions:

To increase solar energy use in Ecuador Solar panel imports are exempt from import and sales tax. ³⁶

Installed

Corporación Favorita Solar Complex ³⁷

• Capacity: 2.4 MW DC, 2 MW AC
• Location: Quito-Sangolquí, Ecuador
• Technology: 4,368 Jinko Panels of 550W, Huawei Inverters (100 KTL, 60 KTL, and 40 KTL)

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Solar Farm ³⁷

• Capacity: 2.5 MW DC, 1.29 MW AC
• Location: El Inga – Quito, Ecuador
• Technology: 2,720 Jinko Panels of 550W, 40 Huawei Inverters (60 KTL and 100 KTL)

Solar Loja Project ³⁸

• Location: Loja, Ecuador
• Capacity: 1.2 MWp
• Technology: Canadian Solar CS6P-255 and 260P brand.

Projected Solar Projects

El Aromo Solar PV Park ^{34 39}

• Capacity: 200 MW
• Location: Manabi, Ecuador
• Commission date: Construction is expected to commence in 2025

Intiyana Solar PV Park ⁴⁰

• Capacity: 60 MW
• Location: Imbabura,Ecuador
• Commission Date: Expected to enter commercial operation in 2025, with construction commencing in 2024.

The Tugaduaja 1and 2 Solar PV Park ⁴¹

• Name: Tugaduaja 1 Solar PV Park
• Capacity: 60 MW
• Location: Elena Canton,
• Commencement: The project will begin operation in 2027

DeltaGlobal S.A: ⁴²

DeltaGloabal S.A. is a leading solar energy company in Ecuador, offering a range of services including residential and industrial solar installations, battery backup systems, and vehicle charging stations. With over 10 years of experience, the company has installed more than 40,000 solar panels, generating 20 MWp in projects.

Sun Conservation S.A: ⁴³

Sun Conservation has over 10 years of experience and is one of the leading companies in Ecuador’s solar industry. With more than 70,000 solar panels installed and 17 MW  in continuous operation, they focus on projects for residential, commercial, and industrial applications across the country

Enercity S.A: ⁴⁴

This company specializes in solar energy solutions in Ecuador, offering a wide range of products and services for both residential and commercial clients. I have estimated that they have installed 19 big projects whose total peak capacity is 3.6 MWp.

Genera Renovables: ⁴⁵

They have carried out numerous solar energy projects across Ecuador, including residential, agricultural, academic, and commercial sectors. They focus on providing sustainable and renewable energy solutions.

Rising Sun Ecuador: ⁴⁶

This company showcases various solar energy projects the company has completed across different sectors, including residential, industrial, and commercial installations.

Solar panel Producers and Suppliers in Ecuador: ⁴⁷

EcoSolar S.A. (Quito, 2008) specializes in efficient monocrystalline solar panels, inverters, and batteries. SolEnergía (Guayaquil, 2012) focuses on thin film solar panels and inverters, emphasizing sustainability. VerdeSol (Cuenca, 2010) integrates transparent solar panels with minimal visual impact. Andes Solar (Ambato, 2014) offers durable solar PV panels, battery storage, and water heaters for diverse climates. LuzDelSol (Loja, 2016) provides affordable thin film, monocrystalline, and polycrystalline panels with strong customer service.