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An abandoned landfill in the heart of the Galapagos Islands will soon see its
garbage-strewn terrain replaced by a modest solar field – a welcome change for a
biologically diverse archipelago that runs almost exclusively on diesel
fuel.
Known for their uniquely endemic species since the explorations of
Charles Darwin on the Beagle ship, the volcanic Galapagos are situated about 970
kilometers west of their mother country, Ecuador, in the Pacific
Ocean.
With a utility infrastructure independent of Ecuador proper,
however, the Galapagos Islands are still burning almost nothing but diesel fuel
to generate the electricity necessary for their people, explains Dona Levy, vice
president for business development at the new Jerusalem-based firm Energiya
Global.
The historical importance of the archipelago’s flora and fauna
has therefore driven Energiya to make the islands one of its first ventures in
developing photovoltaic solar fields around the globe.
“It’s sad to say
that the Galapagos Islands are still using fossil fuels to produce electricity,”
Levy says. “Of all places in the world.”
“It’s a World Heritage nature
site,” adds Yosef Abramowitz, the company’s president and
co-founder.
Abramowitz is also the president and founder of the Arava
Power Company, the firm responsible for the June 2011 launch of Israel’s first
medium-sized solar field, Ketura Sun, at Kibbutz Ketura in the Arava.
To
date, the new company has deals under way for a total of 59 megawatts of solar
power across the world, which are nearing financial close, as well as another
250 MW under intermediate development, according to Abramowitz. In addition to
the $4 million the company has already invested, DS Apex Mergers &
Acquisitions announced on October 28 that it would be leading a $10m.
fund-raising effort for Energiya – the same day Abramowitz was named “Person of
the Year” at an Israeli energy convention.
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