Efficient Cooking Program (ECP) - Ecuador

The Efficient Cooking Program (ECP) is focused on mitigation actions. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions by replacing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) with renewable energy sources like hydroelectricity.

Fast facts

The ECP aims to replace LPG based cooktops and residential water heating systems with electric systems for 3 million families, which account for 83% of the population (INEC, 2010);
With the implementation of the ECP, it is estimated that a reduction of 2.9 million tonnes CO2-eq. per year and total accumulative reduction of approximated 49 million tonnes CO2-eq from 2014 to 2030 will be achieved;
That average annual reduction is equivalent to 9% of the total emissions (26.5 million tonnes CO2-eq. per year) in Ecuador’s energy sector.

The problem

Ecuador imports LPG to meet domestic demand, mostly in the residential sector (90%) for cooking and water heating. LPG is subsidized by 90% of its price, costing the government approximately USD 700 million per year.

The solution

In order to reduce the dependency of LPG, Ecuador has invested in changing the national energy matrix, and expects to increase its share of hydropower by 2025. The ECP aims to replace 3 million LPG cook stoves with induction cooktops. This project aims to substitute imported fossil fuel by hydroelectricity in the residential sector, remove the LPG subsidy and the development of the local industry associated with the cook stoves. Ecuador has invested heavily in technological change and changing the energy matrix. Induction technology is more efficient in terms of time and intensity of cooking.

Helping the planet

The estimated greenhouse gas emissions reduction from this activity is approximately 2.8 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent per year.

Helping people

The beneficiaries of this project are 3 million families that will replace their cook stoves with induction cooktops. This project will also help Ecuador become less dependent on fossil fuels.

Scaling Up

After the implementation of 3 million induction cook stoves, the program will continue to replace LGP with induction technology with a 30% annual rate.