Argentine province's distributed generation push gets underway

Argentine province Jujuy has started construction of the first of eight solar PV farms planned under a 48MW distributed generation buildout scheme.

Officials had advanced a tendering process earlier in the year.

The maiden project under the US$55mn plan is the 6MW Cannava, which will power a cannabis plant and connect to the local distribution network operated by utility Ejesa. Builder Juan F. Secco won the contract, the provincial government said in a release.

A planned second phase involves expanding the parks – which will supply the local market – to ramp up overall capacity to around 97MW.

Governor Gerardo Morales said locals will see plants mushrooming in the province, adding that the push would result in lower electricity prices.

The other plants on the drawing board are: Caimancito, 7.5MW; Chalicán, 7.5MW; Rodeito III, 3MW; Humahuaca, 6MW; El Carmen, 3MW; Los Lapachos, 6MW; and PI Perico, 9MW.

The sundrenched northwest province is home to 300MW solar PV plant Caucharí Solar, where a 200MW China Exim Bank-financed expansion is planned.

Jujuy converted a gas-fired power station into a hybrid gas-solar PV plant with energy storage – the first project of its kind in the country.

The province also has a proposed solar power complex. The project comprises an 11MW solar thermal module and a 12MW solar PV unit, according to the development plan.

In related power sector news, the federal energy department awarded two distributed generation work contracts corresponding to solar PV-storage projects in Catamarca and Salta provinces.  

Both lots, one for US$5.7mn and the other US$1.02mn, were awarded to company SE.MI., a resolution published in the official gazette states.

The projects are part of the Permer program, which targets off-grid rural communities. Focus segments are farming, residential, education and SMEs.

The program is financed by a US$200mn IBRD loan obtained by the federal government.