Solar scores lowest average prices in Argentina’s smaller-scale tender

August 6, 2019
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
(Credit: Minem Solar)

Solar has emerged as the overall cheapest technology in Argentina’s latest clean energy tender, aimed at smaller-scale installations.

PV winners of the so-called MiniRen auction were contracted at average tariffs of US$57.59/MWh, narrowly outcompeting the US$58.04/MWh scored by wind projects.

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

The results of the July tender – released this week by Argentina’s Energy Ministry – show 96.75MW worth of contracts was granted to solar, down from initial bidding PV volumes of 128MW.

All in all, the MiniRen tender awarded contracts to a 259.08MW roster of renewable technologies including solar and wind but also biomass, biogas and small hydro power.

Overall, 38 projects across all clean energy power sources secured auction support, out of 52 preselected schemes. PV’s final 13 winners were chosen from an 18-strong group of applicants.

Part of Argentina’s RenovAr programme, the auction was open to 0.5-10MW schemes, although some wind bidders were allowed to bid for a maximum of 13.5MW.

Eight of the 13 solar contracts went to projects of 9MW capacity or more. All 13 winning projects are planned for development in northern and western provinces including Mendoza and Salta.

Despite PV’s lowest average tariff of US$57.59/MWh, the cheapest project on an individual basis – a 12.6MW, US$52.5/MWh scheme in the Córdoba province – was put forward by a wind developer.  

Winners from all technologies will benefit from 20-year, US$-denominated power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Argentina’s power market administrator CAMMESA.

Once up and running, the prevailing 38 schemes are expected to unlock a combined US$368-plus million in investment, 1,000 new jobs and enough power to cover the needs of 250,000 households.  

According to the Ministry, a further 12 failed to line up auction PPAs but will be offered support under separate renewable supply deals, including with government clean energy fund FODER.

The government did not provide a technology breakdown for the 12 unsuccessful renewable applicants, explaining however all 12 had put forward 62.75MW in projects.

Argentina’s smaller-scale auction comes as the country witnesses solar growth on the utility-scale end, with Canadian Solar linking 100MW Cafayate as others working to build 600MW Cauchari.

Read Next

October 15, 2025
Wood Mackenzie has warned of a supply bottleneck as the renewable energy shift drives a spike in global copper demand over the next decade.
October 15, 2025
A report by IRENA and others has highlighted the need for yearly renewable energy deployments to almost double between now and 2030.
October 15, 2025
Independent power producer (IPP) Geronimo has begun construction on it’s150MW solar project in Illinois and commissioned the 125MW PV project in Michigan.
October 15, 2025
Indian module manufacturer Saatvik Green Energy, through its subsidiary Saatvik Solar Industries, has secured solar PV module orders worth INR6.89 billion (US$78 million).
October 14, 2025
The curtailment of solar PV and wind capacity in Chile has reached 3.2TWh as of August 2025, a slight increase from the same period in 2024.
Premium
October 14, 2025
OCI Holdings’ decision this week to buy a Vietnamese solar wafer facility to supply the US solar cell manufacturing industry makes clear the biggest vulnerability facing the sector today.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK