North American to develop two PV projects in Ecuador - SolarStar

A North American consortium comprising SunWize Technologies, Solexica Energy Corporation, JCM Capital, and Radical Energyis is to develop two solar photovoltaic projects in Ecuador.

The plants are 30MW and 20MW in size and have been named Condor Solar and Solarconnection respectively.

In total the projects will be equipped with 234,000 solar panels  and several inverters.

Both the Condor Solar and Solarconnection projects will be constructed in a region of the Andes Mountains called Canton Pedro Moncayo. The area""s average temperature allows solar panels to operate at optimum efficiency, while its altitude and location near the equator offer abundant sunshine with few impediments, the consortium said.

It is estimated that they will generate enough electricity for approximately 100,000 households and provide alternative clean and pure energy sources for the area.

Scott Tonn, CEO of SunWize said: "Photovoltaic solar energy doesn""t pollute air, soil or water, making it a sustainable and environmentally-friendly choice for energy production worldwide. As members of the North American consortium, we look forward to providing the people of Ecuador with an energy resource that will serve them well in the years ahead."

During the construction phase, 200-400 temporary jobs and 10-15 permanent jobs will be created. Once the projects are completed they are expected to reducte carbon emissio by up to 47,000 tonnes annually.

"Pedro Moncayo""s geographic location will help these projects be both economical and efficient," said SunWize President and Chief Operating Officer David Kaltsas.

"However, the area is also surrounded by a number of tourist attractions, including the Mojanda Stratovolcano. As a result, Pedro Moncayo is uniquely positioned to serve as a model of sustainable energy use that thousands of tourists will have the opportunity to discover and appreciate in the years ahead."

The project will have an education value through a number of training programmes, which emphasise the value of the renewable sources of energy, sustainable agriculture, arts and culture.