The Ministry of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources of Ecuador has published a request for proposal for three public selection processes for financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of two power generation projects with an installed capacity of 900 MW and a transmission project. Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydropower, and biomass account for 500 MW of the 900 MW power-producing capacity. Depending on the major resource, environmental, and logistical circumstances, the projects will be located in various geographic areas. Natural gas projects will take up the remaining 400 MW of power-producing capacity.
As per the tender guidelines, until the respective power allocation is finished, projects in each sub-block would be chosen based on the lowest price submitted. Renewable energy initiatives are anticipated to cost $875 million to develop. On its own initiative, the private sector could submit projects using non-conventional renewable technology, according to the tender. A transmission project with three transmission subsystems, six new substations with a capacity of 539.5 MW, and 290.1 km of transmission lines are included in the tender. The transmission lines, which will supply roughly 300 MW of demand from the Interconnected Electric Oil System, must be powered at 230 kV, 138 kV, and 69 kV. The anticipated cost of the transmission project is $386 million. The project has a 30-year concession period.
In September 2020, Ecuador announced the initiation of its selection process of private sector players to develop and operate 200 MW of renewable energy projects. These projects would be located in different regions, depending on the resources, site conditions, environmental, and other logistics.
