About Us
Who are we?
We are a group of motivated professionals from different areas such as renewable energy, water management, natural pools, sustainable construction, and solid waste management.
We are fascinated about Orcas and we are learning from their way of communicating and socializing in perfect synchronization with their surroundings. In Galapagos we have a resident population of Orcas.
Our Mission
We feel privileged to live on this planet. For this reason, we have the obligation to improve the "human management." Our mission is to multiply our projects and disseminate the experiences we have obtained by collaborating with other enterprises and stakeholders.
We want to publish the solutions and motivate people to spend time in nature. So that each one begins to move his grain of sand.
What do we do?
We learn from our natural environment in the Galapagos by observing nature, imitating natural processes, avoiding waste and carrying out projects to learn and reduce the human's environmental footprint.
Our Story
Orcatec started in 2013 by installing the first solar heaters in Galapagos. From there we have installed more than 100 solar heaters. In 2018, we installed the first photovoltaic system in Puerto Ayora.
In 2015, the first natural wastewater purification plant was installed in the municipality of Isabela. Based on this project, a public-private project (PPP) was carried out with the German Development Bank (SDR) in 2016 that included the construction of a compact plant for a hotel and an artificial swamp for the Santa Cruz Fishing Cooperative. In the next VIDEO you can get more information about this project.
Since 2017, we started with the Iguana Cup initiative that is linked to the history of the endemic pink iguana of the Isabela Island. The objective is to have a product that is accessible to young people and tourists. Iguana Cup can be a memory of Galapagos or the beginning of change to certain user habits. Until January 2020, we had more than 2000 glasses in use. We want to continue to find other daily use products that belong to the circular economy.
We are convinced that we need urgent actions to mitigate climate change. Everyone has their responsibility to do his part and to be an example to follow. We want to be examples by acting and trying new ways of living in harmony with the nature. Along the way there will be falls, but we always learn something and move forward in our projects.
Meet our Team
A group of technicians with a common ideology, providing environmental solutions and learning from the nature
Max
Founder of Orcatec with more than 20 years of experience in
environmental solutions in Europe and Latin America. Since 2011 in the
Galapagos creating economically viable solutions to reduce environmental
contamination and raise environmental consciousness among the local
residents and tourists.
Andrea
Environmental engineer specialized in the construction and the
improvement of sewage water and recycling plants. She did her Master of
Science at the University of Stuttgart and has strong experience in
the prevention of environmental contamination.
Nuria Estrella
Specialist in conservation and sustainability for over 15 years in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. She holds a Masters in Environmental Management at the 'Université Libre de Bruxelles' in Belgium and recently graduated the Certificate Program at UCLA, specializing in Renewable Energies. She is a LEED Accredited Professional (USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
Fernando
Instructor and constructor of natural pools utilizing local plants to
clean the water of the pools. He constructs stabilized earth domes and
agro-ecological platforms. Also, advisor for community design and
sustainable ecotourism.
Ana Simina
Specialist in communication and web development.
She holds an MPP in Digital, New Technology and Public Policy from Sciences Po Paris.
Her interests include internet health, sustainability transitions, and civic empowerment.
Sebastian
Expert in Life Cycle Assessment, sustainable mobility solutions and photovoltaic integration. His latest field of research is on how the Blockchain technology can contribute to a more competitive implementation of electricity from solar energy and electric mobility.
Gaby
Environmental educator with a lot of experience in managing projects
focused on children, youth and adults. She is very dedicated in creating
local and sustainable projects reducing the human footprint. Member of
the scouts movement.
Bryan
Local technician who was born on the Galapagos Islands. He is trained in
the installation and maintenance of photovoltaic projects, solar thermal
and water purification systems. He is always interested in learning
something new around sustainable livelihood.
Estheban
Local technician from Otavalo who supports in various projects of water
purification and solar projects. With his curiosity and humor, he
reinvents himself finding innovative solutions to daily challenges.