After establishing itself as one of the main players in the Argentine solar market, Solar DQD has embarked on a new phase of growth: its expansion into other Latin American countries. However, the decision goes beyond simply seeking new business opportunities.
"For us, the most interesting markets are Mexico, Peru, Colombia, and Paraguay. We're also seeing some activity in Guatemala," said Alejandro Garín Odriozola, Operations Director of Solar DQD.
The strategy aims to bring to the region both the company's construction experience and its recent commitment to power generation, so that "the intention is to enter the region with the set of services and also with the generator to expand the portfolio and compete in new markets."
The regional expansion comes after eight years of growth in Argentina, where the company achieved a market share exceeding 70% of the solar EPC market. With a consolidated position in the country, the challenge now is to demonstrate that this model can be replicated beyond its borders.
"It's almost a sporting matter, seeing new markets where we are not so well known, validating everything we have been doing in Argentina," explained Garín Odriozola in an exclusive interview during the Future Energy Summit (FES) Mexico.
Technology and procedures for scaling
To maintain its execution levels in different markets, Solar DQD has worked in recent years on standardizing its processes and incorporating technological tools for monitoring construction projects.
The company even developed a control structure based on its own tools, specific applications, and continuous project monitoring. Currently, it has a team of ten systems engineers dedicated to internal technological development, as well as autonomous drones and digital platforms for project management.
And it's worth remembering that the company has experienced rapid growth in recent years. As Garín Odriozola explained, It went from having between 80 and 100 employees to a staff of approximately 1,200 people in just two years.
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"We have a complete control platform, in addition to all our work procedures, that allows us to quickly and effectively transfer knowledge and provide training," he stated. This capability is especially relevant in the context of international expansion, and the strategy is aligned with this, so SolarDQD will seek to transfer the operational know-how accumulated in Argentina to each market, while forming local teams to execute the projects.
"We handle large projects with 10% to 15% of our staff who already have experience, and we train the rest. We want to take steps and raise our profile. And if the market needs us, we'll be there," added the operations director of Solar DQD. The methodology has already begun to be tested outside of Argentina. Before expanding into Peru, they conducted a pilot program in Uruguay to validate their ability to manage international projects while maintaining their support structure in the country.
A culture born in the work
Beyond procedures, technology, and operational capacity, regional expansion is also supported by the international experience of the company's leaders. Garín Odriozola spent a significant part of his professional career outside of South America, an experience that now influences Solar DQD's approach to new markets.
An architect by training, the executive studied in Uruguay and later earned a master's degree in Germany at the renowned Bauhaus school. He then worked in Berlin and Switzerland, where he developed his own projects and collaborated with architectural firms before fully joining the growth of Solar DQD.
"I spent many years working in architectural design in Switzerland. I even had my own architecture studio," he recalled. However, the rapid growth the company began to experience in Argentina ended up changing his plans.
The international presence is also part of the story of Federico Garín, the company's founder and brother of the current Operations Director. According to the executive, Solar DQD's DNA is deeply rooted in fieldwork and project execution. "Federico was the company's first pile driver. We're about doing; we like to be involved," he stated.
This culture, built from the ground up rather than through a traditional corporate structure, is what the company now seeks to bring to new markets. With experience gained in Argentina, initial validation in Uruguay, and first steps taken in Peru, Solar DQD believes the time has come to measure its capabilities on a regional scale.