Geo Thermal Update of Ecuador 2005-2010: Karwan Saeed
Geo Thermal Update of Ecuador 2005-2010: Karwan Saeed
Geo Thermal Update of Ecuador 2005-2010: Karwan Saeed
2005-2010
BY
Karwan Saeed
Geothermal Historical
Exploration
Earlier geothermal exploration, carried out from
the mid 1970s to the earlier 1990s by
government institutions with the aid of foreign
technical assistance programs.
The report(INECEL/OLADE 1980) produced by
INECEL (Institute Ecuatoriano de Electrificacin,
now defunct) and OLADE (Organizacin Latino
Americana de Energa),together with AQUATER
(Italy) and BRGM (France). summarized the areas
of interest in two main groups.
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Geothermal Resources
As per the explorations and researches, Two main
Groups are summarized.
Group A(High Temp.) Tufio, Chachimbiro and Chalupas
Group B(low Temp.) Ilal, Chimborazo and Cuenca
In 1985 INE carried out prefeasibility studies for
(low-mid Temp.) resources. Ilal and Cuenca prospect
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CHALPATN
CUICOCHA
CAYAMBE
PULULAHUA
GUAGUA PICHINCHA
ILALO
TUNGURAHUA
SALINAS
GUAPN
SAN VICENTE
PORTOVELO
ALCEDO
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GEOTHERMAL UTILIZATION
Today, utilization of geothermal resources in Ecuador
is restricted to direct uses only, that is for bathing
resorts, balneology and swimming pools.
Lately, the first use of space heating at private Term as
Papallacta Spa Resort Hotel has been commissioned, but
data are not available yet
Also several projects for direct use in fish hatchery await
funding for development. A summary of many, but not
all, hot and warm springs used for swimming pools is
shown in table below, giving a total installed capacity of
5.157 MWt and an annual energy output of 102.401
TJ/yr, which is the same as for 2005 update.
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Conclusion
Since the government has taken the political decision to
fund, explore and develop clean, indigenous, renewable
energy resources, including geothermal energy, it is
foreseeable that in the near future, say the next 5 to
10 years, Ecuador will have its first geothermal power
plant. Direct uses will also be explored and developed,
most probably by the tourist, agribusiness and fishhatching sectors.
Due to higher oil prices and to locally and regionally
increasing energy demand, geothermal energy uses can
become cost-efficient in relation to conventional hydro, oil
and gas, and to other renewable energy forms. Public
investment plays now a key role in funding future
geothermal enterprises for both, electric and direct uses.
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