Argentina's largest AlmaSADI tender for stand-alone BESS systems now has a preliminary scenario after the release of the prices of all competing projects.
A simulation carried out with the CAMMESA tool anticipates that 20 projects would concentrate the awarding of the 700 MW , with Genneia, DQD Energy, 360Energy, Aluar and Intermepro as the best positioned companies.
Genneia appears to be the main beneficiary , securing seven projects totaling 421 MW , while DQD Energy would obtain eight projects totaling 162 MW . Further behind would be 360Energy , with three plants totaling 73 MW , while Aluar and Intermepro would complete the list of potential awardees, pending official confirmation on Wednesday, July 8.
The results come from a simulation based on CAMMESA's evaluation model , which considers the offered prices adjusted by the increase factor, the nodal impact and other technical parameters.
However, it should be clarified that it does not cover the extra 10% allocation margin mentioned by the government on several occasions, nor a possible extension of allocated power beyond the mentioned percentage.
The call also resulted in a competitive process that exceeded the expectations of the private sector, considering that the weighted price was USD 10568 MWmes , while the offers ranged between USD 7397 - 12500 MWmes , which means a difference of more than USD 5000 MWmes between both extremes.
How would the prize money be divided among the winners?
Genneia is poised to lead the bidding process thanks to an aggressive pricing strategy. The company submitted five projects valued at under USD 7,800 MW/month and is expected to secure several of the lowest bids in the tender.
- Bragado I-II - 100 MW x USD 7397 MWmes (lowest economic offer of all AlmaSADI)
- Cruz Alta I - 120 MW x USD 7,536 MWmonths (2nd lowest)
- Crespo - 50 MW x USD 7697 MWmonths (4th most economical)
- Chascomús - 45 MW x USD 7888 MWmes (5th lowest)
- Santa Rosa Sur - 30 MW x USD 8555 MWmonths
- Cañada de Gómez (36 MW x USD 8,556 MWmonths
- Mar de Ajó - 40 MW x USD 8697 MWmonths
DQD Energy, the development and generation unit of Solar DQD (one of the major EPC companies in the local market), would be the second company with the largest awarded capacity thanks to eight projects located between Chaco and Formosa , which would add up to 162 MW :
- Villa Ángela (30 MW - USD 9390 MWmes)
- Castelli (20 MW - USD 9425)
- San Martín (20 MW - USD 9460)
- La Leonesa (22.5 MW - USD 9495)
- CD 22 Vilelas (22 MW - USD 9600)
- CD 5 (15 MW - USD 9635)
- Charata (10 MW - USD 9670)
- Presidencia Roca (10 MW - USD 9705).
In third place would be 360Energy , with Realicó II (18 MW - USD 8,730/MWmes), Mayer (20 MW - USD 8,940), and Nonogasta Solar (30 MW - USD 8,181) . The company already has a track record in energy storage awards, having secured hybrid projects during the 2023 RenMDI tender.
The list would be completed with Aluar , through the 50 MW BESS Goya project in Corrientes with an offer of USD 8498 MWmes , and Intermepro , which would enter with the 12 MW Pirané power plant in Formosa after presenting a price of USD 9666 MWmes .
More than 7 GW would be left out of the initial allocation
Another takeaway from the process is the high level of competition. Without a significant increase in the planned volume, more than 7,000 MW of developed and submitted projects would be excluded from the initial allocation , despite having passed the bidding stage.
In that scenario, the Additional Reliability Reserve Service (SerCA) appears as the main alternative to channel part of that pipeline.
The mechanism arises from article 11 of Resolution 400 of the Secretariat of Energy , which created the Additional Reliability Reserve Service (Additional SRC) for thermal, hydroelectric, nuclear generation and storage systems with commercial authorization from January 1, 2025 .
Based on this regulatory framework, the Energy Secretariat tasked CAMMESA with designing the selection mechanisms and general conditions for future calls for proposals. This technical work, called SerCA , could become the next opportunity for some of the projects that are unable to secure funding through AlmaSADI.
The decision will come on July 8 , when CAMMESA publishes the official award and it is confirmed whether the final result matches the simulation or incorporates changes derived from the technical evaluation or a possible expansion of the contracted volume.