Argentina Awards 700.5 MW of Battery Storage Across 20 Projects in Seven SADI Regions

Argentina's Secretariat of Energy has awarded 700.5 MW of battery energy storage systems (BESS) distributed across 20 projects to be installed in seven regions of the Argentine Interconnection System (SADI). The estimated investment totals $700 million, according to Resolution 155/2026 published on July 7 in the Official Gazette. The process closes a tender that drew bids exceeding 11 times the target capacity.

The AlmaSADI tender, launched in March 2026 by the Secretariat of Energy, received 235 technical bids totaling 8,338 MW, far above the 700 MW target, according to the official statement. Five companies were awarded contracts: Genneia (7 projects), DQD Energy (8 projects), 360 Energy Solar (3 projects), Aluar (1 project), and Intermepro (1 project). The call continues the AlmaGBA program, which in its previous phase awarded 713 MW of storage in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA), surpassing its original target of 500 MW.

The awarded capacity is distributed across seven regions: Buenos Aires province (185 MW), NEA Chaco-Formosa (161.5 MW), NOA (150 MW), the Pampas region (68 MW), NEA Misiones-Corrientes (50 MW), Entre Ríos Littoral (50 MW), and Santa Fe Littoral (36 MW). The Wholesale Electricity Market Administration Company (CAMMESA) prepared the pre-award report following technical evaluation and the opening of economic bids on June 24. The planned remuneration mechanism is a capacity payment administered by CAMMESA, with long-term contracts that guarantee investment returns.

This marks the first formal grid-scale storage award in Argentina's SADI, a model that other Latin American countries are watching closely. Mexico, which has yet to hold its first battery auction, is paying close attention to the design and results of the Argentine model, according to pv magazine. The installations aim to reduce congestion and outages at critical nodes in the transmission system.

This article was written with artificial intelligence assistance based on verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.