Five bids pre-qualified for Conolophus solar-and-storage PPP in Galapagos

The Technical Commission delegated by the Minister of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources of Ecuador to carry out the Public Selection Process (PPS) of the Conolophus Project, authorized five international companies/associations to participate in the PPS that aims to concession the Conolophus Project located on Santa Cruz Island, in the Galapagos Archipelago. 

The commission named Canadian Solar Conolophus, Gransolar-Total EREN, Voltalia SA, Woojin Industrial Systems, and Scatec Solar - Energy Flex as bidders that will participate in the next round of tender. Qualified companies must pay an amount established in the process specifications as participation right.

Conolophus is a photovoltaic project with energy storage (in batteries with lithium-ion cells) resulting from the National Government's policy to promote the participation of the private sector in the expansion of electricity generation based on non-conventional renewable natural resources. The Conolophus project will supply renewable energy to the Baltra-Santa Cruz electrical system and will occupy an approximate area of 20 hectares.

The project's concession term is 25 years, a capital investment of approximately US$45 million is expected, it will have a reference power of the photovoltaic plant: 14.8 MWp (peak megawatts) and energy storage of 40.9 MWh (megawatt hours ).

By Ministerial Agreement of June 16, 2020, the Minister of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources declared the exceptionality for the management delegated to private capital companies, national or foreign, for the execution of this project. Likewise, it authorized the start of the Public Selection Process (PPS) and approved the specifications prepared by the Public Selection Process Management Commission.