Solindustrias: Solar Process Heat In Cuenca

The City Cuenca In Ecuador Is Committed To Its Sustainable Development And Decarbonization, Aiming To Become An Energy City (Based On The Swiss Energiestadt). In Order To Fulfill This Ambitious Goal, An Energy Plan For Cuenca Was Developed By The Municipal Government And The Energy Transition Is Pushed Forward By Implementing Energy Efficiency Measures And Renewable Energy Technologies, Involving All Large Energy Consumers, Especially In The Industrial Sector. In 2019, The Industrial Sector In The City Consumed 2445 Kboe, Mainly Provided By Fossil Fuels, Thus Releasing A Large Amount Of Greenhouse And Pollutant Gases. Industrial Companies Are Constantly Exploring Alternative, Low Carbon Energy Sources To Produce Heat For Their Processes. The Aim Of Solindustrias Project Is To Demonstrate The Techno-Economical Potential Of The Implementation Of Renewable Solar Heating Systems For Industrial Processes In Cuenca, While Exploring The Possibility Of Future Scaling Up At National Level In Ecuador. Using Solar Heat For Industrial Purposes (Ship) Will Substitute Fossil Fuels And, Thus, Decarbonize Industrial Processes And Become Less Dependent On Imported Fossil Fuels (E.G., Diesel And Natural Gas). Ship Uses Reliable Solar Thermal Technology To Produce Carbon-Neutral Heat Up To 200°C At Fixed Heat Prices For At Least 20 Years After Installation, Gaining More Attention In The Past Decade (See Iea Task 64). Ship Is, Therefore, A Promising Option For Cuenca'S Industry Because Of (1) The High Annual Average Solar Irradiation (Ghi For Cuenca Is Around 4,5 Kwh/M2/Day) And (2) The Large Number On Companies Needing Process Heat Below 100°C (I.E., Hot Water). In Particular, The Food Industry Requires Process Temperatures With Operating Temperatures That Optimally Match Solar Thermal Between 80°C And 150°C And Is Therefore A Promising Sector That Can Be Effectively Decarbonized By Solar Heat. This Project Seeks To Prepare The Technical And Economical Groundwork For The Successful Deployment Of Ship In Cuenca By Knowledge Transfer, Pilot And Demonstration Of Ship Examples And Promoting These Technologies To Other Industrial-End Users And Local And National Government. The Main Objective Of The Project Is To Install And Evaluate Integrated Ship Solutions At The Industrial-Site From A Food Industry Facility, Develop A Replication And Up-Scaling Strategy, As Well As Suggest Tools And Testimonials To Advocate To Energy Policy Makers. The Ship Systems Will Be Installed In Cuenca At One Of The Largest Food Processing Company, Nutri (Www.Nutri.Com.Ec), To Demonstrate The Benefits And Potential Of Solar Energy In The Ecuadorian Industrial Sector. The Experience And Learnings From Adopting Solar Thermal Energy In This Company Will Help To Promote Ship To Other Industrial Facilities In Ecuador. To Reach The Main Objective, We Propose To: 1) Pilot& Demonstration: Install A Solar Heating System To Supply Part Of Nutri'S Hot Water Demand, Considering Budget, Space And Specific Requirements From The Company, 2) Techno-Economical Study And Social Acceptance: Evaluate Economic And Environmental Impacts, And Social Acceptance Of The New Heating Systems Installed, 3) Knowledge-Transfer: Develop And Conduct Training Courses On The Design, Assembly And Maintenance Of These Systems, Transfer Technology And Knowledge; And, 4) Replication: Analyze The Business And Policy Conditions That Could Better Promote The Uptake Of Solar Thermal Systems In The Ecuadorian Industrial Sector And Provide Input For National Energy Policies And Entrepreneurship.