Energy forecast of Ecuador's Tertiary Sector to 2040 Using the LEAP Model
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53591/easi.v4i2.2596Keywords:
Energy consumption, Energy forecasting, LEAP model, Tertiary sectorAbstract
This study forecasts energy consumption in Ecuador’s tertiary sector through 2040 using a prospective energy model developed with LEAP software. It relies on official data and variables such as employment figures and household consumption. Three scenarios are analyzed: Business as Usual (BAU), High (HIGH), and Low (LOW) consumption. Results show an 87% increase in energy use between 2020 and 2040, rising from 5 million to 10 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE). Under the BAU scenario, consumption is projected at 10 million BOE; 6 million in the LOW scenario; and 13 million in the HIGH scenario. Out of 11 activities analyzed, 84% of energy use is concentrated in three key areas: Information and Communication, Commerce, and Accommodation and Food Services. The sector also displays a strong reliance on electricity, which represents 76% of its total energy consumption. Transportation services were excluded from the analysis, as they are considered a separate sector due to their high energy demand. The findings highlight the urgency of implementing sustainable strategies to manage energy use, especially in high-consumption activities. This information provides a valuable foundation for decision-makers and stakeholders in designing energy policies focused on efficiency and reducing environmental impacts in Ecuador’s tertiary sector.
References
Ali, Z., Shaikh, F., Kumar, L., Hussain, S., & Memon, Z. A. (2021). Analysis of energy consumption and forecasting sectoral energy demand in Pakistan. International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy, 17(4), 366. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJETP.2021.118338
Andrew Khouri. (2018, mayo 9). California lista para exigir paneles solares en todas las casas nuevas. Los Angeles Times. https://n9.cl/fp5ux
Benito, A. O., Castro Verdezoto, P. L., Burlot, A., & Arena, A. P. (2024). Hybrid power system for distributed energy deploying biogas from municipal solid waste and photovoltaic solar energy in Mendoza, Argentina. E3S Web of Conferences, 532, 01001. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202453201001
BCE. (2020). Matriz Insumo Producto [Dataset]. https://n9.cl/fvb0u
BCRP. (2023). PBI por sectores del Perú. https://n9.cl/estadisticasbcrpdatapbi
Bravo, G., Di Sbroiavacca, N., Dubrovsky, H., Lallana, F., Landaveri, R., Recalde, M., & Ruchansky, B. (2016). Estudio de Prospectiva Energética del Ecuador 2012-2040. https://n9.cl/ayhil
BRC. (2024). Banco central de Colombia Estadísticas económicas. https://n9.cl/gbbcw
Castro, P. L., Castro, M. P., & Cunha, M. P. (2018). Comparative analysis of energy indicators of the Andean Community Members Análisis comparativo de indicadores energéticos de Países miembros de la Comunidad Andina de Naciones.
Castro, P. L., Vidoza, J. A., & Gallo, W. L. R. (2019). Analysis and projection of energy consumption in Ecuador: Energy efficiency policies in the transportation sector. Energy Policy, 134, 110948. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2019.110948
Castro-Verdezoto, P. L., Da Cunha, M. P., García-Gutiérrez, Á., & Montaño, W. Q. (2024). Energy policy implications of Ecuador’s NDC. Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development, 8(13), 7542.
IEA. (2015). Indicadores de Eficiencia Energética: Bases Esenciales para el Establecimiento de Políticas. https://biblioteca.olade.org/opac-tmpl/Documentos/cg00333.pdf
IIGE. (2024). Balance Energético Nacional 2023. Instituto de Investigación Geológico y Energético. https://www.recursosyenergia.gob.ec/5900-2/
Ini, L. (2025, abril 24). En Chile, Codelco adjudica 1,5 TWh anuales de energía renovable para 2026-2040. pv magazine Latin America. https://n9.cl/jmmd3
LEAP. (2024). LEAP. https://leap.sei.org/default.asp?action=introduction
Mamani, R. M. (2022). Balance Nacional de Energía 2022.
OLADE. (2017). Manual Estadística Energética 2017. https://biblioteca.olade.org/opac-tmpl/Documentos/old0380.pdf
Pérez-Gelves, J. J., Castro-Verdezoto, P. L., Alvarado-Cantos, N. M., & César, T. A. (2024). Applying fuzzy logic and neural networks to forecasting in efficiency programs. In E3S Web of Conferences (Vol. 532, p. 01006). EDP Sciences
Salinas, M. E. (2022). Sector terciario y su aportación al PIB del Ecuador durante los diez últimos años [bachelorThesis]. https://repositorio.uta.edu.ec/handle/123456789/36672
Sokol, N. J. (2023). Chapter 19 - Community adaptation to microgrid alternative energy sources: The case of Puerto Rico. En M. Nadesan, M. J. Pasqualetti, & J. Keahey (Eds.), Energy Democracies for Sustainable Futures (pp. 173-179). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-822796-1.00019-X
Tsemekidi, S., Bertoldi, P., Economidou, M., Clementi, E. L., & Gonzalez-Torres, M. (2023). Determinants of energy consumption in the tertiary sector: Evidence at European level. Energy Reports, 9, 5125-5143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2023.03.122
Voz de América. (2024, abril 16). Ecuador inicia racionamientos de electricidad; Noboa destituye a ministra de Energía. Voz de América. https://www.vozdeamerica.com/a/ecuador-inicia-racionamientos-de-electricidad-de-hasta-cinco-horas-a-causa-de-la-sequia/7572051.html
Wei, Y.-M., Lan-Cui Liu, Ying Fan, & Gang Wu. (2007). The impact of lifestyle on energy use and CO2 emission: An empirical analysis of China’s residents. Energy Policy, 35(1), 247-257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2005.11.020
Zhou, X.-Y., & Gu, A.-L. (2020). Impacts of household living consumption on energy use and carbon emissions in China based on the input–output model. Advances in Climate Change Research, 11(2), 118-130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2020.06.004
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Yoiler Tigua Villaprado, Joao Cadena-Barrera, Pedro Castro-Verdezoto, Daniel Ortega-Pacheco

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Contributions published in the EASI journal follow the open access license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0). This license empowers you as an author and ensures wide dissemination of your research while still protecting your rights.
For authors:
- Authors retain copyrights without restrictions according to CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license.
- The journal obtains a license to publish the first original manuscript.
For readers/users:
Free access and distribution: Anyone can access, download, copy, print, and share the published article freely according to the license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 terms.
Attribution required: If any third party use the published material, they must give credit to the creator by providing the name, article title, and journal name, ensuring the intellectual property of the author(s), and helping to build the scholarly reputation.
Non-commercial use: only noncommercial use of the published work is permitted. Noncommercial means not primarily intended for or directed towards commercial advantage or monetary compensation by any third party.
No modifications allowed: The content of the published article cannot be changed, remixed, or rebuilt upon the author’s work. This ensures the integrity and accuracy of the research findings.








