The national government is moving forward with a key tender to modernize the Argentine electrical system and reduce the risk of power outages during peak consumption periods. The Energy Secretariat approved the qualification of 232 bids to install battery energy storage plants, as part of the ALMA SADI process.
The call has generated strong interest from the private sector. A total of 37 national and international companies participated, which submitted projects for more than 8,200 MW of power, a figure that exceeds the initial tender goal by more than 11 times, set at 700 MW. The first stage anticipates investments estimated at around USD 700 million, although the total potential interest of the bids is close to USD 8,200 million.
Batteries allow for the storage of energy for later use
The process aims to incorporate large-scale batteries in critical nodes of the Argentine Interconnection System. The regions covered are NOA, NEA, Centro, Litoral, Cuyo, Pampa, and Buenos Aires, excluding the AMBA, which already had its own bidding process through the ALMA-GBA program.
According to the planned schedule, Cammesa will now proceed with the final evaluation of the economic bids. The award of the 700 MW is expected in the first days of July, with a scheduled date of the 8th of that month.
One of the highlighted points by the government was the competitiveness of the offered prices. The best proposals by region were around 65% of the maximum price set in the specifications, indicating strong competition among bidders and a significant margin to improve the economic conditions of the process.
Storage batteries allow for a quick response to demand variations, providing flexibility to electrical dispatch and adding reserves to operate the system with greater security. Batteries serve as a backup that helps stabilize the grid when consumption increases, especially during the months of highest demand, such as summer.
Batteries allow for the storage of energy for later use
The tender also marks a continuity with the ALMA-GBA process, launched last year for the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires. In that instance, 713 MW of storage were awarded in critical nodes of the AMBA, with an estimated investment exceeding USD 540 million. These works are currently underway.
With this new stage, the administration of Javier Milei seeks to advance towards a market solution based on private investment, competition, and technology. The government aims to incorporate modern infrastructure to improve the reliability of the electrical grid and support the productive growth of the country.
