The government is exploring the potential of Ecuador’s 22 active volcanoes to diversify power generation and reduce dependence on hydroelectric plants.

Amid the electricity sector emergency declared by the government on August 15, 2024, and the plans to acquire 750 megawatts (MW) of electricity generation to combat the drought in Ecuador, which arrived earlier than expected, other alternatives are being studied by the administration. One such alternative is geothermal projects that could harness the power of Ecuador’s active volcanoes.

This approach was highlighted by Rafael Quintero, Vice Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy of the Ministry of Energy and Mines, during his speech at the “Clean Energy Summit,” organized by the Ecuadorian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, where the topic of renewable energy in Ecuador was discussed.

Vice Minister Quintero acknowledged that Ecuador’s energy matrix is heavily reliant on hydroelectricity. He emphasized that the government’s objective is to launch bidding processes to attract investments that will enable the diversification of energy generation through non-conventional projects, including geothermal initiatives.

“As part of the transition, we have a plan that prioritizes the development of geothermal projects. Ecuador has 22 active volcanoes. This energy source does not depend on climatic factors, making it constant and reliable,” Quintero explained.

Colombia Also Exploring Geothermal Projects

This alternative is not new in the region. Neighboring countries like Colombia, which, like Ecuador, is experiencing an energy crisis, are also considering this approach. Colombian geologist Julián López, Vice President of the Colombian Geothermal Association, explained that the system, like almost all forms of electricity generation, involves moving a turbine. To do this, scientists locate underground water reserves that, due to the heat, exist as a mixture of vapor and liquid.

“What we are trying to develop is a drilling system that can access these reserves, which naturally flow due to the pressure and temperature they are under. On the surface, the hot water is separated from the steam, which goes to a turbine, moves a generator, and produces electricity,” López told Climate Tracker (CT), a non-profit international organization.

He added that once the steam passes through the turbine, it condenses and rejoins the rest of the water in a tank to be reinjected into the well from which it was extracted. The generated energy is directed to transmission lines that can supply the communities near the project or be fed into the National Interconnected System to distribute electricity across the country.

Meanwhile, in Ecuador, this alternative is being added to the plan to acquire new electric generation, in which the state plans to invest between $900 million and $1 billion. The bidding for these contracts, which cover 750 megawatts, includes the rental and purchase of energy through processes set to begin on September 2nd. These processes include the rental of 200 MW, which will be provided by barges, such as the one in Guayaquil owned by the Turkish company Karpowership, which is preparing to deliver 100 MW to the integrated system for 18 months.

According to figures from the National Electricity Operator (Cenace), Ecuador currently has an energy deficit of 1,080 MW.