Snapshot: Projects seeking priority dispatch in Argentina’s 3Q22 capacity auction

Thirty-five Argentine renewables projects sought transmission priority dispatch in the latest capacity auction held by wholesale power market administrator Cammesa. 

The round – corresponding to 3Q22 – drew wind and solar PV projects.

Earlier this year Cammesa awarded seven renewables projects priority dispatch following a tiebreak process in the 2Q22 round.

Among the biggest in the current round is the 202MW San Luis Norte wind project, belonging to Generación Eléctrica Argentina Renovable I, a unit of energy firm PCR and steel company ArcelorMittal Acindar. Located in San Luis province and being built by construction firm Semi, the plant is due to have initial capacity of 113MW. Generación Eléctrica Argentina Renovable I is seeking 84MW of priority dispatch. San Luis Norte was granted 36MW in Cammesa’s 2Q22 call. An 18MW solar farm at the site is also being mulled, the firms said last month. 

The biggest by installed capacity is PCR unit Luz de Tres Pico's wind project Vivoratá, being built in Buenos Aires province with scope for 399MW. Initial capacity is due to be 49.5MW. Vivoratá already has 31.2MW of priority dispatch. 

In a context of strained grid capacity in some regions, previous rounds have gone to a tiebreak. Cammesa is analyzing the applications and a final award decision is due by the end of the month.

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.

Multilateral IDB recently said it had approved a US$1.14bn decarbonization credit line for Argentina, with part of the resources earmarked for grid work. 

PROJECTS SEEKING PRIORITY DISPATCH IN CAMMESA’S 3Q22 CALL

Project: Energética I expansion (wind)
Applicant: Energética Argentina
Project capacity: 49.5MW
Maximum capacity sought: 29.5MW
Province: Buenos Aires
Corredor: Comahue

Project: El Alamito (solar)
Applicant: ADI-NQN
Project capacity: 1.2MW
Maximum capacity sought: 1MW
Province: Neuquén
Corredor: Comahue

Project: Energías Renovables de la Esperanza (solar)
Applicant: Energías Renovables de la Esperanza
Project capacity: 7.5MW
Maximum capacity sought: 7.5MW
Province: San Luis
Corredor: Centro

Project: Los Nogales (solar)
Applicant: Energías Renovables Los Nogales
Project capacity: 9.5MW
Maximum capacity sought: 9.5MW
Province: San Luis
Corredor: Centro

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

Project: Helios Santa Rosa II (solar)
Applicant: Tassaroli
Project capacity: 5.2MW
Maximum capacity sought: 5.2MW
Province: Mendoza
Corredor: Cuyo

Project: El Carrizal (solar)
Applicant: Surland Cuyana
Project capacity: 39.6MW
Maximum capacity sought: 16.4MW
Province: Mendoza
Corredor: Cuyo

Project: Andinos (wind)
Applicant: Parque Eólico Andinos
Project capacity: 131MW
Maximum capacity sought: 131MW
Province: Neuquén
Corredor: Comahue

Project: Boreas del Norte (wind)
Applicant: Parques Eólicos Boreas del Norte
Project capacity: 100MW
Maximum capacity sought: 92.4MW
Province: San Luis
Corredor: Centro

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

Project: La Rinconada (wind)
Applicant: Vientos La Riconada
Project capacity: 92.4MW
Maximum capacity sought: 92.4MW
Province: Buenos Aires
Corredor: Comahue

Project: Mataco II (wind)
Applicant: Luz de Tres Picos (PCR)
Project capacity: 101MW
Maximum capacity sought: 36MW
Province: Buenos Aires
Corredor: Comahue

Project: Mataco III (wind)
Applicant: Luz de Tres Picos (PCR)
Project capacity: 101MW
Maximum capacity sought: 22MW
Province: Buenos Aires
Corredor: Comahue

Project: Vientos Olavarría (wind)
Applicant: Vientos Olavarría
Project capacity: 101MW
Maximum capacity sought: 54.3MW
Province: Buenos Aires
Corredor: Comahue

Project: Vivorata (wind)
Applicant: Luz de Tres Picos (PCR)
Project capacity: 399MW
Maximum capacity sought: 18.3MW
Province: Buenos Aires
Corredor: Costa Atlántica

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

Project: Pocito (solar)
Applicant: Thinkable Energy
Project capacity: 5.03MW
Maximum capacity sought: 5MW
Province: San Juan
Corredor: Cuyo

Project: Las Barranquitas (solar)
Applicant: Energy Point
Project capacity: 10MW
Maximum capacity sought: 10MW
Province: San Luis
Corredor: Centro

Project: Malargüe (solar)
Applicant: Aconcagua E. R.
Project capacity: 25MW
Maximum capacity sought: 25MW
Province: Mendoza
Corredor: Cuyo

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

Project: Capiz I (solar)
Applicant: Trancurá Energía
Project capacity: 20MW
Maximum capacity sought: 20MW
Province: Mendoza
Corredor: Cuyo

Project: Cura Brochero (solar)
Applicant: Parque Solar Cura Brochero
Project capacity: 17MW
Maximum capacity sought: 17MW
Province: Córdoba
Corredor: Centro

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

Project: Villa de María de Río Seco (solar)
Applicant: Villa de María de Río Seco
Project capacity: 20MW
Maximum capacity sought: 20MW
Province: Córdoba
Corredor: Centro

Project: Santa Clara II (solar)
Applicant: RPG Santa Clara
Project capacity: 100MW
Maximum capacity sought: 100MW
Province: San Luis
Corredor: Centro

Project: Santa Clara I (solar)
Applicant: RPG Santa Clara
Project capacity: 100MW
Maximum capacity sought: 100MW
Province: San Luis
Corredor: Centro

Project: Vientos de Dorrego (wind)
Applicant: Vientos de Dorrego
Project capacity: 63MW
Maximum capacity sought: 63MW
Province: Buenos Aires
Corredor: Comahue

Project: Del Alto Valle (wind)
Applicant: Parque Eólico del Alto Valle
Project capacity: 100MW
Maximum capacity sought: 100MW
Province: Neuquén
Corredor: Comahue

Project: Wayra I (wind)
Applicant: Autotrol Renovables (Pampa Energía)
Project capacity: 100MW
Maximum capacity sought: 40MW
Province: Buenos Aires
Corredor: Comahue

Project: Aromos (wind)
Applicant: YPF Energía Eléctrica
Project capacity: 168MW
Maximum capacity sought: 100MW
Province: Buenos Aires
Corredor: Comahue

Project: Pampa Energía III (wind)
Applicant: Pampa Energía
Project capacity: 27MW
Maximum capacity sought: 27MW
Province: Buenos Aires
Corredor: Comahue

Project: General Levalle I (wind)
Applicant: Levalle Eólico I
Project capacity: 64.5MW
Maximum capacity sought: 17MW
Province: Córdoba
Corredor: Centro

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

Project: General Levalle II (wind)
Applicant: Levalle Eólico II
Project capacity: 90.3MW
Maximum capacity sought: 90MW
Province: Córdoba
Corredor: Centro

Project: San Luis Norte (wind)
Applicant: Generación Eléctrica Argentina Renovable I
Project capacity: 202MW
Maximum capacity sought: 84MW
Province: San Luis
Corredor: Centro

In related news, Argentina’s federal energy department reportedly gave the green light for the signing of a power-purchase agreement for a proposed 200MW expansion of solar park Cauchari. Other projects are also seeking a PPP with the state are the following:

– The 100MW Picún Leufú wind project, planned for Neuquén province (ADI-NQN)
– The 100MW Arauco II wind project (stages 5 and 6) and 50.1MW solar park Arauco I, proposed for La Rioja province (Parque Eólico Arauco)
– The 99.4MW Arauco II wind project (stages 3 and 4) (Arauco Renovables)