Argentina set to top Latin PV roster with planned 600MW project

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Argentinian authorities are keen for the Jujuy project to hit 600MW in capacity by late 2020 (Credit: Andrea Orozco / Pixabay)

Argentina looks set to break Latin America’s PV records after plans were confirmed for a 600MW solar project in the semi-arid northwest, twice the initial target.  

President Mauricio Macri told a press conference last Friday of efforts to further expand the Cauchari project, initially meant to deliver three 100MW plants – plus a fourth unveiled in early 2017 – in the Jujuy province.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

“We’re going for another 200MW, with the same blueprint, the same consortium. It really is going to be impressive to see more than million panels at over 4,000 metres of altitude,” Macri said as he addressed journalists at the provincial capital San Salvador de Jujuy.

Speaking alongside him, Jujuy governor Gerardo Morales shared the latest timetable for the construction works, jointly carried out between provincial utility Jemse, Shanghai Electric and Power China. “Some 150MW will be ready by this May, followed by the whole [300MW] project in August,” Morales explained.

He said expansions thereafter should see 500MW attained by the end of 2020, followed by a further 96MW that is being coordinated by Jujuy power distributor Ejesa. “By the end of next year, Cauchari should be supplying 600MW to the system,” the governor added.

Should the capacity figures materialise in 2020, they would represent an exponential addition to the 795MW of operative PV Argentina hosted as of February 2019.

Cauchari’s first 300MW were backed through the first round of auction programme RenovAr in 2016 and an oversubscribed US$210 million green bond. How the additional 300MW will be supported remains, however, unknown for now; the upcoming auction for wind and solar, scheduled this May, will cater to smaller projects in the 0.5-10MW size region.

See here to listen to president Macri's statement in full

Read Next

August 28, 2025
Latin America has the potential to unlock billions in clean energy investment if it aligns national policies with global sustainability goals and investor expectations.
August 8, 2025
Argentinian renewables developer Genneia has reached commercial operations at its 180MW Parque Solar Anchoris in Argentina.
April 23, 2025
Shanghai Electric and Masdar have signed an agreement to build the 2GW Sadawi solar project in Saudi Arabia.
March 3, 2025
Argentinian renewables developer Genneia has launched its first solar PV plant in the Argentinian region of Mendoza.
January 6, 2025
Round-up of news from China with solar module manufacturers Trina Solar, GCL-Perovskite and Chinese firm Shanghai Electric.
November 27, 2024
Shanghai Electric has won the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build the 2GW Al-Sadawi PV project in Saudi Arabia.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines