SNAPSHOT: 12 renewable projects in Argentina's Neuquén province

The outlook for renewable energy in Argentina has improved substantially since business-friendly President Mauricio Macri took office in December 2015.

In the space of four months, Macri's government has reformed electric power subsidies, lifted capital controls, allowed the peso to float freely against the dollar, enacted a renewable energy law, announced plans for a renewable energy supply tender and ended a debt dispute with holdout creditors in the US, allowing Argentina to regain access to foreign capital markets.

As a result of these developments, investment in the renewables sector - which has stagnated over the last decade despite the country's abundant natural resources - is suddenly looking more attractive, and Neuquén province is looking to take advantage.

Neuquén's investment development agency, ADI-NQN, is planning 12 renewable energy projects for a combined installed capacity of more than 650MW.

Under development since 2010, the portfolio comprises three hydropower plants, seven wind farms and two geothermal concessions.

All but one of the wind farms - the 100MW Cerro Senillosa project - have obtained environmental approval.

ADI-NQN's advisor for wind development told BNamericas recently that the agency intends for all seven wind farms to participate in the tender.