Ecuador

ecuador flag
GH2 Country Portal – Ecuador

Green Hydrogen Vision

Ecuador envisions green hydrogen as a transformative element in its energy landscape, aiming to harness its abundant renewable resources to produce clean hydrogen for sectors that are challenging to decarbonize, such as heavy industry and transportation. By investing in green hydrogen projects, Ecuador seeks to diversify its energy matrix, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and stimulate economic growth by creating new value chains and job opportunities. This vision aligns with global efforts to combat climate change and positions Ecuador as a proactive participant in the transition to sustainable energy solutions. 

National Strategy

Ecuador developed a National Green Hydrogen Roadmap in 2023 to leverage its renewable energy resources for green hydrogen production, aligning with global decarbonisation goals and commitments such as the Paris Agreement. The roadmap emphasises using renewable energy sources like hydropower, solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass for hydrogen production through electrolysis. Green hydrogen is identified as a critical component for decarbonising sectors like transportation, industry, and electricity, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. 

Capacity Targets

Targets for green hydrogen electrolysis capacity are set as follows:  

  • 1 GW by 2030 
  • 3 GW by 2040 
  • 6 GW by 2050 

Ecuador plans to utilise its renewable energy potential, including excess hydropower, to meet these capacity goals. 

Impact Targets

  • Decarbonisation: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with Ecuador’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). 

  • Renewable Energy Deployment: Increase renewable energy capacity and optimise resources. 

  • Economic and Social Benefits: Promote industrialisation, create jobs, and foster technological innovation in alignment with sustainable development goals. 

  • Export Opportunities: Position Ecuador as a green hydrogen and derivative exporter to global markets, especially in regions demanding renewable energy inputs. 

Project Spotlight

Nepos Energy, a leading company in distributed generation, electrical engineering, automation, and industrial control, has announced plans to develop its first green hydrogen project in Ecuador by 2025. During an interview with Energía Estratégica, Daniel Carrillo Nieto, the company’s project leader, explained that the war between Ukraine and Russia has underscored the necessity of reducing reliance on conventional energy sources, positioning green hydrogen as a promising energy vector to achieve this objective. 

Financing

The roadmap highlights the need for:  

  • Strategic international and regional partnerships to attract investment. 

  • Development of a stable and transparent regulatory framework to foster investor confidence. 

  • Financial incentives and tax benefits to reduce production costs and improve competitiveness. 

  • Integrating public and private sector efforts to secure the substantial funding required for infrastructure and technology deployment. 

Government Green Hydrogen Lead

Ministry of Energy and Mines 

Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition