On May 15, 2026 local time, Argentina's largest single photovoltaic power station, 360MW El Quemado, was fully put into operation in the province of Mendoza. Its annual power generation can meet the electricity needs of 233000 households, making it the first large-scale investment incentive project in the country.

In 2026, Argentina's installed capacity of renewable energy has exceeded 14GW, and the growth rate of photovoltaics has exceeded 30% for two consecutive years. In this context, the El Quemado solar power station in the Las Elas region of Mendoza province was officially launched on May 15th, with a total installed capacity of 360MW and a total investment of 220 million US dollars. It is not only the largest single solar project in Argentina at present, but also the first renewable energy project to be implemented under the framework of the country's large-scale investment incentive system.

From 100MW to 360MW

The power station was acquired and built by YPF Luz, a subsidiary of YPF, from the original developer Emesa, adopting a phased grid connection strategy. The first phase of 100MW has been put into commercial operation in December 2025, and this comprehensive launch means that full capacity power generation has officially been achieved.

The entire power station covers an area of 620 hectares and is about 53 kilometers away from Mendoza city. It is equipped with over 511000 double-sided photovoltaic modules, 5800 solar trackers, and 1170 inverters. The double-sided components and tracking system increase the power generation by up to 12% compared to traditional fixed panel power stations, and combined with the natural advantage of over 300 days of sunshine per year in the local area, the capacity factor reaches 31.4%, which can meet the electricity needs of more than 233000 households per year. A GIS substation and 40 transformer stations will be synchronously built on the grid side to provide hard support for stable power supply.

A benchmark sample of $94 billion incentive system

The environmental protection and employment benefits are equally impressive: the power station reduces CO ₂ emissions by about 455000 tons annually, and 87% of the 350 direct jobs during the construction period are local workers. Governor Konejo of Mendoza Province stated that the project is a crucial step in the province's energy transformation, and Chief Cabinet Minister Adoni expects the total investment under this system to exceed 94 billion US dollars. YPF President Marin pointed out that the operation of the power station has propelled YPF Luz's total renewable energy installed capacity to 1GW, marking a milestone in the company's clean energy transformation. Keywords: new energy, photovoltaic power station

In 2026, Argentina's installed capacity of renewable energy has exceeded 14GW, and the growth rate of photovoltaics has exceeded 30% for two consecutive years. The full operation of the El Quimado power station not only injects stable and clean electricity into the province of Mendoza, but also serves as a benchmark for the first project to be implemented, opening a hole in Argentina's $94 billion investment incentive system.Editor/Cheng Liting