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Argentina Launches 1.2 GW RES Tender

Wind power projects have been allotted the largest share in the 1.2 GW Round 2 of Argentina’s renewables tender. Solar developers have to compete for 100 MW less than its wind peers.

Anu Bhambhani
  • Argentina's Ministry of Energy and Mining invites bids for 1.2 GW renewable energy capacity
  • Solar PV has been allotted a quota of 450 MW, while wind has been given 550 MW
  • PV projects are primarily scheduled to come up in NOA, Cuyo regions along with rest of Argentina
  • Price cap for solar power projects has been set at $57.04 per MWh, and for wind it is $56.25 per MWh
  • Last date to submit tender documents is October 19, 2017

The much awaited Round 2 tender under Argentina's renewable energy program RenovAr was launched recently with the government publishing Resolution 275-E/2017 in the official bulletin. The Ministry of Energy and Mining has invited bids for 1.2 GW. Solar will be allotted 450 MW.  

While wind power bidders will receive the largest amount in the tender at 550 MW, solar comes second, followed by biomass (100 MW), biogas (35 MW), biogas from landfills (15 MW) and small hydropower (50 MW).

For solar PV projects, a price cap of $57.04 per MWh has been fixed, while for wind power projects the cap is $56.25 per MWh. Solar power capacity will have to be developed in in Argentina's Northwest region referred to as NOA, the mountainous region of Cuyo and in other parts of the country.

In Argentina's Round 2 renewables tender, the bidding price cap for solar is $57.04 per MWh. In the previous tender, the average price for solar energy was $54.94 per MWh was lower, while in Round 1, the average bidding price was a little higher at $59.7 per MWh.

More tender details are available on the ministry's website.

Last date to submit the tender documents is October 19, 2017. Power purchase agreements (PPAs) are scheduled to be signed by November 29, 2017.

The World Bank recently approved $480 million to help in financing the country's 2025 target of achieving 20% share of renewables in the energy mix (see World Bank Support For RenovAr).

Argentina is targeting a 8% renewables share of its cumulative electricity consumption by December 31, 2017. It plans to increase the share to 20% by December 31, 2025.

The previous two tenders, Round 1 and Round 1.5 awarded a total capacity of 2,424 MW (see Winners Announced For Argentina Tender).