Argentina awards 444MW of transmission priority dispatch capacity to 11 renewables projects

Argentina’s wholesale power market administrator Cammesa awarded 444MW of transmission priority dispatch capacity, spread across 11 renewable energy projects.

Thirty-five projects had participated in the auction, corresponding to 3Q22, and 34 had entered a tie-break round amid strained grid capacity in some regions.

The project securing the most capacity was 100MW Chaco province solar farm Pampa del Infierno, planned by a developer of the same name.

Transmission priority dispatch is assigned to projects looking to participate in the Mater term market, where generators supply power under contracts with large users. Corporates with an eye on their green credentials are driving demand for electricity from clean sources.

Argentina needs to build out transmission capacity to help support continued renewables growth in the windswept south and the sun-drenched northwest. Some transmission corridors are heavily congested, limiting the addition of new grid-connected renewables plants.

The country is rekindling plans to increase the capacity of the 132kV network, using US$1.14bn IDB financing. 

Private sector players have also indicated willingness to help finance a new 500kV line that would run alongside existing infrastructure transporting power from wind resource-rich areas in Buenos Aires province. Any investment decisions would partly hinge on further progress of subsidy segmentation and on regulatory stability.   

PROJECTS THAT SECURED PRIORITY DISPATCH CAPACITY

Project: Vientos Olavarría (wind)
Applicant: Vientos Olavarría
Project capacity: 101MW
Maximum capacity sought: 54.3MW
Awarded: 24MW
Province: Buenos Aires
Transmission corridor: Comahue

Project: De La Bahía – expansion (wind)
Applicant: Pampa Energía
Project capacity: 50.4MW
Maximum capacity sought: 14.4MW
Awarded: 14.4MW
Province: Buenos Aires
Transmission corridor: Comahue

Project: Pampa Energía III (wind)
Applicant: Pampa Energía
Project capacity: 27MW
Maximum capacity sought: 27MW
Awarded: 25.6MW
Province: Buenos Aires
Transmission corridor: Comahue

Project: La Elbita II (wind)
Applicant: Genneia
Project capacity: 36MW
Maximum capacity sought: 36MW
Awarded: 36MW
Province: Buenos Aires
Transmission corridor: Costa Atlántica

Project: General Levalle II (wind)
Applicant: Levalle Eólico II
Project capacity: 90.3MW
Maximum capacity sought: 90MW
Awarded: 37MW
Province: Córdoba
Transmission corridor: Center

Project: Villa de María de Río Seco (solar)
Applicant: Villa de María de Río Seco
Project capacity: 20MW
Maximum capacity sought: 20MW
Awarded: 20MW
Province: Córdoba
Transmission corridor: Center

Project: Cura Brochero (solar)
Applicant: Parque Solar Cura Brochero
Project capacity: 17MW
Maximum capacity sought: 17MW
Awarded: 17MW
Province: Córdoba
Transmission corridor: Center

Project: Aconcagua (solar)
Applicant: Aconcagua E.R.
Project capacity: 20MW
Maximum capacity sought: 20MW
Awarded: 20MW
Province: Mendoza
Transmission corridor: Cuyo

Project: San Rafael Verano I (solar)
Applicant: Verano Capital Solar 2
Project capacity: 100MW
Maximum capacity sought: 100MW
Awarded: 90MW
Province: Mendoza
Transmission corridor: Cuyo

Project: Los Molles (solar)
Applicant: PV La Perla
Project capacity: 100MW
Maximum capacity sought: 60MW
Awarded: 60MW
Province: Mendoza
Transmission corridor: Cuyo

Project: Pampa del Infierno (solar)
Applicant: PS Pampa del Infierno
Project capacity: 100MW
Maximum capacity sought: 100MW
Awarded: 100MW
Province: Chaco
Transmission corridor: NEA