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The Galapagos Archipelago

The Galapagos Islands, an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean that is home to numerous rare plant and animal species, will be the site of a new ODA (official development assistance) project that uses South Korean technology for an electric power system network based on solar and wind energy microgrids.

The Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) announced on Aug. 23 (local time) that it signed an “MOU on the cooperation for the construction of a microgrid system in the Ecuadorean Galapagos Islands” with the Ecuadorean Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy in Quito, Ecuador.

Microgrids are next-generation electric power system networks that integrate new and renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power with energy storage systems (ESS). KIAT said, “Through the construction of a microgrid that draws on South Korea’s renewable energy technology capabilities, we plan to start an ‘energy infrastructure ODA’ project that will increase the Ecuadorean Galapagos Islands’ new and renewable electricity generation rate.”

From this year until December of 2020, the two parties will carry out construction of a 1MW photovoltaic microgrid on the Galapagos’ San Cristobal Island, located about 1000km to the west of the Ecuadorean mainland. This ODA project is funded by a projected grant of 7 billion won (US$6,236,160) from the South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and is not conditioned by repayment terms. This project includes not only the construction of an electric power system network but also generator units such as solar energy panels.

Ecuador is pursuing new and renewable energy projects to ensure reliable supplies of electricity as well as to protect the ecosystem of the Galapagos Archipelago, which has been called one of Earth's last bastions of biodiversity. San Cristobal Island, even compared to the many other islands in the Galapagos Archipelago, is inhabited by rare bird and tortoise species.

This project came about when the Ecuadorean government, which aims to reduce the percentage of thermal power generation by 10 percent while increasing solar and wind power by two percent (in relation to total energy output) by 2020, requested official developmental assistance from South Korea for the Galapagos new and renewable microgrid.

Ecuador plans to invest US$9.17 billion in developing new energy sources such as solar and wind power. KIAT president Kim Hak-do said, “Through the microgrid construction project in Ecuador, our cooperative network will extend across other Central and South American markets [. . .] we hope to see South Korean firms expand into new and renewable energy markets in Central and South America, such as Ecuador.”

By Cho Kye-wan, staff reporter

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