Together, El Terreno and Blossom Solar and Twende Solar are working to address energy insecurity in Guaranda, Ecuador.
El Terreno is a grass roots organization that serves rural marginalized communities in the Bolívar province, just outside the colonial town of Guaranda in central Ecuador. This region of the Andes is home to indigenous Kichwa communities, who have farmed and stewarded the land for generations.
Despite its rich cultural and ecological diversity, Bolívar is one of Ecuador’s most underdeveloped regions. Frequent blackouts severely disrupt education, healthcare, and community development.
Together, we will be installing a total of 30-42 kW of solar for 6 separate buildings to provide reliable electricity to four schools serving 500 students, a healthcare center which serves 5,300 individuals from 11 surrounding communities.
By providing solar energy infrastructure and training, we aim to create sustainable livelihoods, improve access to essential services, and enable young people to stay and thrive in their communities, making migration a choice, not a necessity.
Electricity for 500 students and 5,300 community members
30+ kW total rooftop solar & storage for 6 buildings
Across Ecuador, frequent blackouts severely disrupt education, healthcare, and community development. Ecuador depends heavily on hydroelectric power (74%), with the remainder coming from fossil fuels (24%) and other renewables (2%). However, climate change is exacerbating droughts during the dry season (May–December), leading to unprecedented energy shortages due to the dependency on hydro-electric energy. In 2024, Ecuador experienced planned and unplanned outages lasting up to 14 hours per day.
With reliable, sustainable energy, the systems will provide electricity for essential needs:
Four Schools: With consistent electricity, teachers and administrators can effectively communicate, research, and access digital teaching materials. Over 500 student will have access to essential digital skills for the modern workforce.
Medical Center: Electricity is critical for keeping medicines refrigerated, running medical equipment, and maintaining electronic health records. Reliable electricity means the health center can operate effectively and respond to medical emergencies, serving 5,300 individuals from 11 nearby communities.
Cultural Exchange Center: This hub for community initiatives relies on electricity for research and communication and a safe gathering space for the community.
OUR PROJECT PARTNERS
El Terreno is a grass roots organization that serves rural marginalized communities in Bolívar province, just outside the colonial town of Guaranda in central Ecuador. For the past 3.5 years, El Terreno has been working in partnership with these communities to co-create solutions that foster sustainability, prosperity, and resilience. As a charity and cultural exchange center, they connect international interns and volunteers with local mentors, building relationships based on trust and collaboration.
Blossom Solar is a residential and commercial solar panel and HVAC installer, and electrical contractor operating in Washington State since 2017. Members of the Blossom Solar team led the identification of the project sites, site evaluations, system designs and project management.