Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Geothermal Country Notes

Ecuador
Exploration of the Ecuadorean geothermal potential was begun during the 1970s in order to establish the extent of both high-temperature and low-temperature resources. Despite follow-up prefeasibility studies on the former and prefeasibility studies on the latter, plans for industrial and direct uses were found to be uneconomic.

At the present time geothermal power supplies only a small amount of energy for direct-use purposes. Some 5 MWt of installed capacity is used for recreation and balneology. The country's energy supply is entirely satisfied by hydroelectricity and fossil fuels, but with Government plans to develop indigenous resources (both conventional and renewable), it has been stated that the role of geothermal is set to increase. Higher oil prices and increasing energy demand may well provide the impetus to completely survey, map and reassess the country's potential.