Ecuador’s 500 MW RE Tender Results Out

• Ecuador has revealed the names of the final winners of its 500 MW ERNC auction
• A total of 7 companies have been selected to build this capacity, including Total Eren and Neoen of France
• This capacity once online is expected to generate around 2,000 GWh annually

The Ministry of Energy and Mining in Ecuador has concluded its 500 MW renewable energy auction process selecting 7 companies to build this capacity, including 120 MW solar, expecting these to bring in investments worth $689 million in the country.

The ministry names the following companies as auction winners:

• Ecudaor's Consorcio San Jocinto
• France's Neoen SA
• France's Total Eren SA
• Spain's Dominion Energy SA
• Spain's Consorcio Sa Sania Rosa Enerav
• Spain's Consorcio Rosado Energy, and
• Mexico's Consorcio Esco AS

In January 2023, the ministry revealed the economic offers it received from 10 shortlisted companies with all technologies receiving bids lower than the ceiling tariff; for solar PV it was $67.79/MWh.

Government estimates direct and indirect job creation for about 4,000 during the construction stage. Altogether these facilities should generate around 2,000 GWh annually, helping reduce CO2 emissions by 1 million tons and diversifying the country's power generation portfolio with clean energy addition.

For 120 MW solar PV allocation under the tender, the minimum project requirement was 3 MW and maximum 60 MW, for a concession of 25 years.

The 500 MW tender was launched in December 2021 to help build 150 MW small hydroelectric, 200 MW wind and 30 MW biomass technologies along with 120 MW solar PV under the country's Block of Non-Conventional Renewable Energies (ERNC). It was oversubscribed by an additional 200 MW (see Latin America PV News Snippets).