In 2024, Ecuador faced one of the worst energy crises in its history. A prolonged drought crippled hydroelectric power, the backbone of the national grid, causing 14-hour daily outages, industrial shutdowns, and economic losses. This crisis exposed the fragility of an energy matrix overly reliant on climate-vulnerable hydropower—a stark warning to diversify into resilient, decentralized solutions. In response to this severe climate event Ecuador acted decisively. The Organic Law to Encourage Private Initiatives in the Transition toward Non-Conventional Renewable Energy (NCRE), enacted in October 2024, unlocks unprecedented opportunities for solar and wind projects. The Law was an important first step. However, more initiatives are needed to ensure the protection of Ecuador’s most valuable resource—its people.  

In response to this need, the neighborhood of La Propicia in La Libertad, Santa Elena seized the moment to take action. In early 2025, neighborhood volunteers built a DIY hydroponic tower system powered by a borrowed gas generator to test the feasibility of our idea. The test successfully demonstrated that local communities could not only produce enough vegetables to feed their families but that the smoky old generator could be replaced by a solar system that would provide more than enough energy to carry out clean, sustainable food and water production. Not only did the prototype operate using 90% less water and 90% less space than conventional growing methods( (making it ideal for urban environments) but it also showed the model’s potential for scalable growth. From these humble beginnings, the Coastal Hydroponic Initiative for Solar-Powered Agriculture (CHISPA) was born.  

CHISPA’S mission is to create a replicable blueprint for coastal resilience, reducing dependence on external resources through: 

• Solar Energy: Solar powered hydroponic towers and solar atmospheric water generation.  

• Hydroponic Agriculture: Uninterupted production of vegetables and herbs

• Water Sovereignty: Solar atmospheric water generators, rainwater harvesting, and closed-loop recirculation. 

• Community Training: Workshops to ensure local ownership and scalability.

• By piloting this model, we aim to inspire replication across coastal regions, ensuring energy, food, and water sovereignty while advancing national climate resilience goals.