Site Selection and Performance Analysis of PV Plants in the Coast of Ecuador

Abstract

In Ecuador currently 46% of the electricity is produced from renewable sources, out of this 93% is produced from hydropower. The high dependency on a single source has made the Ecuadorian electricity sector fragile, and the government is looking to diversify the matrix by promoting alternative renewable energies. Thanks to its location, Ecuador has a high solar potential and benefits from a constant 12 hours of daylight throughout the year making it an ideal candidate for PV power plants. In this study, an analysis of the feasibility of a solar power plant in the provinces of Esmeraldas and Manabí in the coastal region of the country is performed.