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Home / Sectors / Renewables & BESS / 1

History of renewables in Argentina

From a handful of Patagonian cooperative windmills in the 90s to more than 8,000 MW in 2026: the 2015 law, the RenovAr tenders, the private-to-private market (MATER) and the surge of solar in Cuyo and the Northwest. Today renewables cover almost a fifth of electricity demand.

~8,350 MWof installed renewable capacity (August 2026): 18.7% of the system
18,9%of electricity demand covered by renewables in 2025 (1.9% in 2015)
44,3%instantaneous record of renewable coverage (October 2025)
Installed renewable capacity (MW): wind, solar, bioenergy and small hydro

End of each year unless indicated. Values with ~ are approximate (2019: calculated from what was added in 2020; Aug-2026: 18.7% of 44,653 MW). Sources: Energy Secretariat, CAMMESA and specialized press.

Electricity demand coverage by renewables (% of the year)

Law 27,191 target: 20% in 2025. Sources: CAMMESA and Energy Secretariat.

Where they are: the map

Wind in operation, April 2026

  • Buenos Aires1,999 MW
  • Patagonia (Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut and Santa Cruz)1,914 MW
  • Rest (Córdoba, La Rioja, La Pampa and others)645 MW

72 farms, 1,249 wind turbines, 4,558 MW. Source: Alpes Energy in EconoJournal (Patagonia grouped; "rest" by difference).

Solar is concentrated in San Juan (the province with the most solar farms), Jujuy (Cauchari, 300 MW), Mendoza, Salta, Catamarca and La Rioja. There is no public series by province and year; we are building the map farm by farm.

Timeline

Tap a milestone to see the detail.

ProductionLaws and policiesInfrastructureMarket
  1. The first wind farmThe country's first commercial wind farm is installed in Comodoro Rivadavia (Chubut).See more →
  2. Law 26,190: the first targetRenewables are declared of national interest, with a target of reaching 8% of demand in ten years.See more →
  3. GENRENENARSA tenders 1,000 MW of renewables. Only a part is built.See more →
  4. The first solar plantThe 1.2 MW pilot photovoltaic solar plant is inaugurated in Ullum (San Juan).See more →
  5. The first 100 MW of windWith Rawson I and II (77.4 MW) and Arauco, wind surpasses 100 MW.See more →
  6. Law 27,191: 20% by 2025The law that changed the energy mix: rising targets, from 8% in 2017 to 20% in 2025.See more →
  7. The RenovAr tendersFour rounds tender more than 4,700 MW with 20-year contracts in dollars. Prices fall from US$ 60 to US$ 40 per MWh.See more →
  8. MATER: the private-to-private marketRenewable generators can sell directly to industrial users.See more →
  9. More than 1,000 MW of wind and 2,000 MW of renewablesAt mid-year there are 29 wind farms with 1,176 MW; by year-end, about 2,600 MW of renewables.See more →
  10. The record year: +1,524 MW39 projects are commissioned in 11 provinces. Renewable capacity exceeds 4,000 MW.See more →
  11. More than 5,000 MWAnother 1,000 MW is added. Renewables cover 13% of demand.See more →
  12. The plateau: transmission is lackingThe RenovAr projects end and the high-voltage grid becomes saturated. In 2022 only 48 MW are added.See more →
  13. Growth resumesMore than 900 MW are added, mostly with private-to-private contracts. More than 6,670 MW.See more →
  14. Record of 44% and the 20% target almost metRenewables cover 18.9% of the year's demand. Peak of 44.3% in October.See more →
  15. More than 8,300 MW and a pipeline of 4,300 MWEl Quemado (305 MW) and San Juan Sur (129 MW) come online. Buenos Aires surpasses Patagonia in wind.See more →

What it means for a supplier

  • A wind or solar farm mobilizes civil works (roads, foundations), electromechanical construction, substations and high-voltage lines, special-load logistics and heavy-lift cranes.
  • Operation and maintenance (O&M) are long-term contracts: panel cleaning, wind turbine maintenance, substations, security and surveillance.
  • The bottleneck is transmission: 500 kV line and substation projects are the sector's next big source of demand.

Fuentes

Updated as of October 9, 2026. Anything to correct or add? Write to us.