The Government of Ecuador has launched the Energy Transition Plan for the Galapagos Islands, also called “Energy Evolution”, in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the incorporation of non-conventional renewable sources of energy and storage. The Plan will rely on technical and financial support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The objective of the Plan is to lower the fiscal burden of its liquid fuel and electricity subsidies by drastically cutting fossil-fuels use and building out renewable energy capacity in the archipelago. The main measures in the Plan include: the reconfiguration of the electricity generation matrix; the optimization of energy consumption among end-users; overhauling its electricity infrastructure; and the transformation of the Galápagos into “smart islands” through automation and digitalization. In addition, the Plan contemplates to use carbon markets to finance programs based on communities, ecosystems and nature; promote female participation in the electricity sector; and empower beneficiaries to lead the transition process., among others. It is estimated that through the execution of this Plan, Ecuador can potentially eliminate 130 thousand tons of CO2 emissions from 2025 to 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.