Argentine generator advancing early-stage 14...
Argentine generator Central Puerto has been carrying out development-phase work on a 140MW solar project - one of at least two earmarked for mining jurisdiction San Juan province.
Branded Hunuc I, the project has secured grid access, via a planned transformer station, to the 132kV network of transmission company Distrocuyo.
Central Puerto told BNamericas: “Although construction of the park is not planned in the short term, this process allowed the company to secure access to a key node in the system.
“This is strategic for continuing to strengthen its portfolio, not only in terms of costs, but also with a long-term vision.”
Last quarter San Juan province approved the project’s environmental impact study.
Central Puerto has previously applied for transmission priority dispatch capacity for Hunuc I.
The company has another San Juan project on the drawing board, the 300MW solar initiative Centenario. The project holds an environmental license and was recently granted wholesale power market access, via the network of distributor Energía San Juan.
Central Puerto recently told investors that mining firms were among potential sources of demand for future generation projects.
Last year Central Puerto outlined a 2024–27 capex plan of US$400mn.
San Juan mining projects
San Juan hosts several advanced copper projects, among them McEwen’s US$3.17bn Los Azules, recently accepted into the Rigi regime. Minas Argentinas’ US$665mn gold-silver project Gualcamayo was also accepted into Rigi, as was the Minera Andina (Barrick and Shandong Gold) US$409mn Veladero expansion project.
Other projects that target San Juan are seeking Rigi benefits:
Vicuña Argentina (BHP and Lundin Mining) - Vicuña
Vicuña has sought grid access and 500kV power infrastructure for the project.
Central Puerto and fellow generator YPF Luz have previously said they have a major mine power line project, Puna, under consideration. Multilateral lender IFC has provided support.
Installed capacity
Central Puerto’s installed capacity climbed 234MW last year to 6.94GW, reflecting the completion of the 140MW Brigadier López combined-cycle conversion project, commissioning of the 14MW San Carlos solar project and the acquisition of the 80MW Cafayate solar farm.
Central Puerto has also retained the rights to operate the 1.4GW Piedra del Águila hydropower plant, on the Neuquén–Río Negro provincial border.
Company solar PV capacity stands at 200MW, via San Carlos, Cafayate and 105MW Guañizuil II.
Energy storage
Last year Central Puerto secured contracts to build two systems in Argentina’s maiden energy storage auction, AlmaGBA. The company is building Central Puerto BESS and Central Costanera BESS, of 150MW and 55MW, respectively, in Buenos Aires province.
A second auction process for similar capacity, targeting additional parts of the country, is underway. Central Puerto said it was considering participating.
(The original version of this content was written in English)