Between July 2023 and June 2024, Ecuador has demonstrated a strong commitment to low-carbon electricity, with more than 70% of its electricity coming from clean energy sources. Hydropower alone accounts for almost 69% of the total electricity generation, showcasing the country's reliance on its rich water resources. Fossil fuels, on the other hand, provide almost 27% of the electricity, indicating that there is still a significant area for improvement in terms of reducing carbon emissions. Net imports and gas make up close to 3%, while biofuels contribute a little over 1%, highlighting that alternative low-carbon energy sources are playing a minimal role in the country’s electricity mix.
To further increase its low-carbon electricity generation, Ecuador can take inspiration from other nations that have successfully integrated large shares of clean energy. For instance, Uruguay, a country relatively similar to Ecuador, generates 36% of its electricity from wind power. Denmark is another great example, deriving 61% of its electricity from wind energy. Moreover, for a diverse low-carbon portfolio, Ecuador can also look at countries like France and Slovakia, which produce around 67% and 60% of their electricity from nuclear power, respectively. This suggests that Ecuador could significantly benefit from investing in both wind and nuclear energy to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and minimize carbon emissions.
Ecuador’s journey with low-carbon electricity began in the early 1980s, with modest increases in hydropower generation. Significant leaps occurred in 1984 and 1996, with notable increases of 1.5 TWh and 1.2 TWh respectively. The most remarkable growth happened in the last decade, especially between 2015 and 2019, where each year saw increases as large as 4.2 TWh in 2017 and 2019. However, there have also been occasional setbacks, such as in 1995, 2009, and 2023/2024, where hydropower generation dropped by around 1.4 TWh or more. Despite these fluctuations, Ecuador’s overall trajectory has been upward, showcasing the country’s persistent efforts to advance its low-carbon electricity generation capacity.