The Galapagos energy system

Energy independence in the Galapagos
Islands
Authors:
Rony Parra
Jaime Cevallos
http://ceproec.iaen.edu.ec/
The Center for Strategic Foresight of Ecuador CEPROEC brings together a
group of researchers that analyzing the territory, population and resources,
evaluate the sustainability of future development scenarios for Ecuador.
Galapagos Islands
Population : 25,120 people
Tourists: 2,500 tourists per day
Area: 7,882 km2
Galapagos National Park: 7,645 km2
‒ 1979 UNESCO declared the Galapagos Islands like Natural
Heritage.
‒ 1985, UNESCO declared the Galapagos Islands a
Biosphere Reserve.
‒ 1986, the Government of Ecuador created the Reserve
Galapagos Marine Resource.
‒ 1990, the archipelago was declared Whale Sanctuary.
‒ 1998 Galapagos Marine Reserve decreed.
‒ 2001 UNESCO included the Galapagos Marine Reserve in
the list of Natural World Heritage Sites.
Contents
1
Galapagos energy system
2
Grammar and results
3
4
Resource availability
Conclusions
1 The Galapagos energy system
High dependence of fuel supply from the
continent
In 2012, 9.9 MMG of diesel, 3.2 MMG of
gasoline, and 1,053 TN of LPG entered the
islands.
Strong growth of electricity consumption
The electricity consumption increased by
21% (from 29.2 GWh in 2010 to 36.9 GWh
in 2012).
Large portion of thermal generation with
fossil fuels
94% of the electricity generated in the
islands was produced by fossil fuels.
Imported fuels consumption
17 MMB of diesel fuel were imported
from foreign countries (54% of diesel
consumed in Ecuador, and Galápagos).
2 Energy grammar and results
*Units: TERA JOULE TJ
Fuel demand in marine transportation
3% 1%
‒ In 2012, the islands consumed 325,500
barrels of fuel,
‒ 70% of total fuels, was consumed in
the transport sector (about 232.700
barrels between diesel and gasoline),
‒ 68% of total fuels in the transport
sector was demanded by the marine
transportation (about 157.400 barrels)
3%
14%
40%
39%
Cruises
Yachts or motor gliders
Tourist boats
Passenger boat
Fishing boats
Aquatic taxis
Electricity generation
Electricity generation
Wind: 2.39 GWH
Solar Photovoltaic PV: 0.16 GWH
Thermal with biodiesel: 0,87 GWH
Thermal with fossil
fuels : 36.6 GWH
6%
40%
94%
60%
2012
2016-2017
Termal
Renewable
Wind: 10.5 GWH
Solar Photovoltaic PV: 5.1 GWH
Thermal with biodiesel: 0.9 GWH
Thermal with fossil
fuels : 23.3 GWH
3
Resource availability
Effective areas for the use of renewable resources
The Archipelago has potential for several sources of renewable energy,
especially solar and wind energy.
There are other sources as geothermal and tidal that also present in the
islands, however their use is limited because they are located within of GNP
(which covers around 97% of the surface on the islands).
Three mature technologies were considered for the analysis:
1. Solar Photovoltaic (PV),
2. Concentrated Solar Power (CSP),
3. Wind.
Wind
Constraints:
- The Wind atlas of Ecuador was used to find the average
wind speeds superior to 6 m/s, for a minimum period of 6
moths per year.
-The Digital Elevation Model of Ecuador was used to identify
the areas with suitable slope (slope below 10%).
50 meters high: 74 km2.
80 meters high: 218 Km2
Solar
Constraints:
-The annual average solar radiation was used from the NASA
Surface meteorology and Solar Energy (SSE)
• For PV the areas with GHI superior to 4 KWh/m2/day
• For CSP the areas with DNI superior to 6 KWh/m2/day.
-The Digital Elevation Model of Ecuador was used to identify
the areas with suitable slope.
• For PV slope below 5%
• For CSP slope below 2%
PV: 89 Km2.
CSP: 26 Km2.
4
Conclusions
There are some projects of renewable energy that will begin their construction in
the next couple of years, however this is not enough for covering all energy
demanded in Galapagos. There is a 60% of total electricity that will continue
coming from thermal energy.
The theoretical potential of electric generation calculated from the use of solar
photovoltaic and wind energy far exceeds the demand of electricity in Galapagos.
The islands need about 39 GWh a year. For example, using only 20% of the
photovoltaic potential area, could cover all demand of Galapagos, without
considering intermittency.
The availability of resources and technologies shouldn't be a problem to reach
energy sustainability in the islands. The principal problem is to find the better
financial alternative for development of the renewable systems.
For example: If the thermal generation of electricity is replaced, the Ecuador
would stop importing 2 million gallons of diesel. The State could save USD$ 7
million every year and this savings could finance several future renewable energy
projects in the islands.
Thanks