Canadian Solar Inc., one of the world’s largest solar power companies, today announced its 100.1 MWp Cafayate solar power project in Argentina started commercial operation on July 19, 2019. It is now the largest operational solar power plant in the country.
Located in the Province of Salta, the solar project is powered by over 289,000 Canadian Solar’s high efficiency modules and will generate over 216 GWh of electricity per year. As part of the RenovAR program launched by the Argentinian Government in 2016, the Cafayate project was awarded a 20-year U.S. dollar indexed power purchase agreement of US$56.28/MWh with CAMMESA (the national wholesale power market administrator and clearinghouse) during the second renewable public tender. This 20-year PPA is guaranteed by the World Bank.
“It is with great joy that we announce the commissioning of the 100.1 MWp Cafayate solar power plant in Argentina, our first and the country’s largest solar power plant in operation. It once again underscores Canadian Solar’s success and leading position in the Latin America region. In Latin America, we have been awarded over 1.6 GWp solar power projects across Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Chile. We continue to foresee a high potential for photovoltaics in Argentina and the whole region and will deliver more solar projects to help the region diversify its energy matrix,” said Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman at Canadian Solar Inc.
In November 2018, Canadian Solar closed US$50 million of non-recourse financing for the Cafayate project. The financing package was provided by CAF-Banco de Desarrollo de America Latina, Banco Ciudad and BICE.