One of the habitats where the marine fauna has made its refuge for millions of years is set to to be illuminated with clean energy in a perfect combination of nature and technology.
The government of Ecuador and international bodies are investing more than $55 million in the construction of renewable energy projects that are already beginning to illuminate small and medium populations settled in the islands: Santa Cruz, Baltra, San Cristóbal, Isabela and Floreana.
“Zero Fossil Fuels in Galapagos” is an initiative whose goal, according to the Ministry of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources of the South American nation, is to benefit more than 25,000 inhabitants of the archipelago and thus replace the use of fossil fuels in the islands, located off the Pacific coast of Ecuador. It should be remembered that the whole of the Galapagos Islands has been declared a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.
During 2018, 16% of the 56,897 MWh/year of energy generated in the islands came from renewable sources. During that time, the federal government inaugurated the Híbrido Isabela project, which consumes 34 percent less fuel than the old thermal power plant, avoiding the emission of 1,400 tons of CO2 per year.
The Renewable Energy Program is coordinated and developed through electric company Elecgalapagos. South Korea is participating in the clean technology project, which together with the local government is executing the 1.0 MWp photovoltaic project in San Cristóbal, which will have a storage system of 2.2 MWh.
It is expected that by 2025, the Islands of San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, Isabela and Floreana will incorporate 9.1 MW, 15 MW, 1.8 MW and 0.17 MW of renewable photovoltaic and wind energy respectively for the benefit of the ecosystem.
