Wind power project in Azuay of 150 MW enters bidding phase

The Corporación Eléctrica del Ecuador (CELEC EP) is advancing its strategy to diversify Ecuador's energy sources by initiating a tender for a significant wind power project in Azuay province. The initiative, named El Pimo, is designed to bolster the national energy grid with an estimated 150 MW capacity, reducing the country's dependence on thermal and hydroelectric generation.

CELEC SUR, a business unit of CELEC EP, officially published the call for bids on August 19, 2026. The tender, identified as CPC-CELECEP-2026-03114, covers the crucial pre-feasibility and feasibility studies for the El Pimo project. A reference budget of $2,477,456.45 has been allocated for this phase, with a stipulated technical execution period of 450 calendar days.

Given the specialized nature of wind energy projects, the tender documents permit participation by foreign consulting firms, provided they meet national capacity verification requirements. Ecuadorian consulting firms are also eligible to bid. The outcomes of these studies will lay the essential technical, engineering, economic, and environmental groundwork for subsequent design, construction, and operational phases.

The proposed site for El Pimo is strategically located in the Pimo and Can Can communities, within the rural parish of Chaucha in the Cuenca canton. Situated at an altitude of approximately 3,800 meters above sea level in the Western Andes Cordillera, the location is considered optimal for wind energy generation. Preliminary estimates suggest the facility could produce around 650 GWh of clean energy annually, marking it as Azuay's first large-scale wind power complex and a significant addition to Ecuador's renewable energy portfolio.

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The initiative represents a look to the future to incorporate renewable resources that complement hydroelectric power plants.