It covers the electricity consumption of roughly 135,000 households.
The San Rafael Solar Park, built and operated by Argentine renewable energy company Genneia, has started early operations with 140 MW already online, out of a total installed capacity of 180 MW, becoming one of the most significant solar developments in Mendoza Province.
The project involved a $180 million investment and features approximately 400,000 solar panels. The electricity generated will be integrated into the grid through the Mercado a Término de Energía Renovable (MATER), supplying private customers with clean, competitive energy. Its generation capacity is equivalent to the electricity consumption of roughly 135,000 households, contributing significantly to the diversification of the province’s energy mix.
Bernardo Andrews, Genneia’s chief executive officer, said: “The commissioning of the San Rafael Solar Park represents a fundamental step in our growth strategy. This project demonstrates that it is possible to develop large-scale energy infrastructure with a positive impact on the environment and regional economies, supporting Argentina’s growing industrial demand for competitive energy.”
Jimena Latorre, Mendoza’s minister of energy and environment, added, “This project clearly reflects the direction Mendoza is consolidating in energy policy, with concrete investments, modern infrastructure and sustainable development. The early operation of the San Rafael Solar Park confirms that the province offers predictability and technical conditions for renewable energy growth.”
Expansion of solar energy in Mendoza
The San Rafael Solar Park is Genneia’s third solar development in Mendoza, situated on roughly 500 hectares. During construction, the project employed over 300 workers, providing a direct boost to the local economy and the regional supply chain.
Mendoza aims to become the province with the largest number of private solar projects in Argentina, supported by sustained state planning, coordinated technical design through Empresa Mendocina de Energía Sociedad Anónima (EMESA), and a business climate that attracts large-scale investments.
Among other key developments in the province:
- El Quemado, led by YPF Luz in partnership with EMESA, began operations last week with a total capacity of 305 MW, making it one of the largest photovoltaic projects in the country. It was the first project approved under the Régimen de Incentivo a las Grandes Inversiones (RIGI) and the first to enter operation.
- Anchoris Solar Park, also operated by Genneia, with 180 MW installed capacity, $160 million investment, and more than 360,000 bifacial panels, enough to supply 125,000 homes and reduce an estimated 220,000 tons of CO₂ annually. More than 350 workers were involved during construction.
- Aconcagua Solar Park, developed by Tango Energy with EMESA in Luján de Cuyo, with 90 MW total capacity, has begun injecting 25 MW into the grid.
- Malargüe Solar Park, in southern Mendoza, also with 90 MW installed capacity.
- In addition, Coperote I, a distributed and cooperative generation project led by the Federation of Electric Cooperatives of Nuevo Cuyo, was added, equipped with 5,832 state-of-the-art photovoltaic panels, providing additional capacity and supporting the province’s energy transition.
Together, these projects position Mendoza to reach approximately 700 MW of installed solar capacity by 2026, with more than 1,000 MW in the pipeline, solidifying the province as a national leader in the energy transition.