96.75 MW Solar Awarded Under RenovAr Round

• 38 renewable energy projects have been selected under Argentina's MiniRen or Round 3 auction
• A total of 13 solar PV projects were selected representing 96.75 MW capacity
• Lowest winning bid for solar came from Spain's Enerland with $54.22 per MWh and average price of $57.58 per MWh
• Together 38 projects to be set up across 12 provinces represent over $368 million in investment and are likely to generate enough electricity to power 250,000 homes

Argentina's Secretariat of Energy has finally awarded 259.08 MW of renewable energy capacity under its Round 3 or MiniRen auction which was concluded under the overarching renewable energy program RenovAr. Solar managed to secure most projects with 96.75 MW cumulative capacity. As against solar's 13 projects win, wind power bagged 10 projects but with the highest total  capacity of 128.7 MW among all competing renewable energy technologies.

Biomass projects were awarded 2 projects with 8.5 MW capacity, 6 biogas projects claimed 12.75 MW, 1 landfill biogas was contracted for 5 MW and 6 small hydropower projects secured 7.38 MW capacity.

In July 2019, 52 projects were announced to have been in competition to secure contracts under the MiniRen auction with solar PV attracting $57.9 per MWh as the lowest average price among all competing technologies (see Solar Bags Lowest Average Price In Argentina's MiniRen). Finally, 38 projects were awarded and another 12 representing 62.75 MW cleared technical qualification but were not awarded contracts.

In the final analysis, wind secured the overall lowest winning price of $52.50 per MWh, while solar managed its lowest winning bid at $54.22 per MWh and an average price of $57.58 per MWh.  Spanish EPC company Enerland won 10 MW solar capacity for the lowest bid of $54.22 per MWh.

The 38 projects awarded represent an investment of more than $368 million and are expected to generate enough electricity to power 250,000 homes. These will be set up in 12 provinces of Argentina – Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Córdoba, Formosa, La Pampa, Mendoza, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz and Santa Fe.

A detailed list of projects and winners is available on Argentina government website.

The Energy Secretariat shared that since 2016 under Rounds 1, 1.5, 2 and now 3, the government has awarded renewable energy contracts for 244 projects representing over 6.3 GW of capacity under RenovAr. Out of these, 47 projects with 1.44 GW capacity are operational, and 101 projects are under construction.