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Preparing the Ecuador’s Power Sector to Enable a Large-Scale Electric Land Transport

Author

Listed:
  • Janeth Carolina Godoy

    (Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstr. 4a, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany)

  • Daniel Villamar

    (Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Ladrón de Guevara E11-253, Quito 170525, Ecuador
    Département Sciences Pour L’ingénieur, Université de Perpignan, École Doctorale 305, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66100 Perpignan, France.)

  • Rafael Soria

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Diego de Robles y Vía Interoceánica, Campus Cumbayá, Quito 170901, Ecuador)

  • César Vaca

    (b4Future, Guangüiltagua N37-266, Quito 170528, Ecuador)

  • Thomas Hamacher

    (Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstr. 4a, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany)

  • Freddy Ordóñez

    (Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Ladrón de Guevara E11-253, Quito 170525, Ecuador)

Abstract

The Ecuador’s expansion plans for the power sector promote the exploitation of hydro power potential, natural gas and a small share of alternative renewable energies. In 2019, electricity generation reached 76.3% from hydroelectric power, 21.9% from thermal plants and 1.8% from other renewable resources. Although the power energy mix is mainly based on renewable technologies, the total energy demand is still dependent on fossil fuels, which is the case of the transport sector that alone accounted for 50% of the total primary energy consumed in the country. This paper analyzes the pathway to develop a clean and diversified electricity mix, covering the demand of three specific development levels of electric transportation. The linear optimization model ( urbs ) and the Ecuador Land Use and Energy Netwrok Analysis (ELENA) are used to optimize the expansion of the power system in the period from 2020 to 2050. Results show that reaching an electricity mix 100% based on renewable energies is possible and still cover a highly electrified transport that includes 47.8% of land passenger, and 5.9% of land freight transport. Therefore, the electrification of this sector is a viable alternative for the country to rely on its own energy resources, while reinforcing its future climate change mitigation commitments.

Suggested Citation

  • Janeth Carolina Godoy & Daniel Villamar & Rafael Soria & César Vaca & Thomas Hamacher & Freddy Ordóñez, 2021. "Preparing the Ecuador’s Power Sector to Enable a Large-Scale Electric Land Transport," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-22, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:18:p:5728-:d:633541
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chiriboga, Gonzalo & Chamba, Rommel & Garcia, Andrés & Heredia-Fonseca, Roberto & Montero- Calderón, Carolina & Carvajal C, Ghem, 2023. "Useful energy is a meaningful approach to building the decarbonization: A case of study of the Ecuadorian transport sector," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 76-87.

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