"Special Regime - Galapagos islands" analysis of the electricity and public lighting service: Current status

This article presents the impact of applying the electricity sector and public lighting policies in the Galapagos Islands, focused on a framework that addresses six issues: legislation, demand, financial, technologies, environmental, and international commitments. The installed power capacity in 2022 was 31.55 MW, 23.04 % from renewable sources. By 2027, the power generation is expected to be 57.62 MW with 56 % renewable sources, without a short-term plan to comply with the "Zero fossil fuels" policy. The electrical system is isolated from the continent, and some policies analyzed can serve as a reference to implement changes in similar systems. • Galapagos Islands are a unique framework in both environmental and energy aspects. • There is no short-term plan that allows the decarbonization in the Galapagos Islands. • The entire electricity sector of the Galapagos Islands is analyzed. • The target for 2027 is 56 % penetration of renewable sources. • Conclusions will serve as a reference that could be applied in similar systems.