- Ecuador Energy Ministry has expanded the capacity of ERNC block by 300 MW additional renewable energy capacity
- The 500 MW tender will accept bids for small hydroelectric plants, solar & wind energy, and biomass technologies
- It expects this tender to bring in $300 million in private investment to the country
The Ministerio de Energía y Recursos Naturales No Renovables or the Ministry of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources in Ecuador has expanded the capacity of Non-Conventional Renewable Energies Block (ERNC) by an additional 300 MW, taking the total capacity to 500 MW, from 200 MW.
This capacity will be tendered to seek bids from small hydroelectric plants, solar PV projects, wind and biomass energy sources across the country.
As per the information shared by the Energy Ministry, block 1 will have 120 MW capacity sought from small hydroelectric plants, block 2 will have 350 MW for solar PV and wind energy projects, while block 3 will seek bidders for 30 MW of biomass projects.
It expects this upgraded renewable energy capacity to mobilize private investment worth $300 million to the country, and ensure additional supply of clean energy to meet the country’s electricity demand, according to the Energy Minister Juan Carlos Bermeo Calderon.
The ministry did not share any further details of the tender.
In December 2020, Solarpack emerged as the winner of Ecuador’s 258 MW El Aromo Solar PV Project which it won for $0.06935 per kWh winning bid (see Spanish Companies Win 310 MW Ecuador RE Auction).
In June 2021, Gransolar and Total Eren consortium were adjudged winners of the 14.8 MW solar with 40.9 MWh battery energy storage system to be set up on the Galapagos Island. They quoted $0.045888 per kWh as the winning and the sole bid offered for the project (see $0.04588/kWh Bid Offered For Conolophus RE Project).
