El Quemado Solar Park is now operating at full capacity in Mendoza and has consolidated itself as the largest photovoltaic development in Argentina. Located in the department of Las Heras, the complex reached an installed capacity of 305 MW and now represents more than 11% of the country’s total installed solar capacity.
By Panorama Minero
The project was originally developed by the provincial company EMESA and later acquired and executed by YPF Luz. The project required an investment of approximately US$220 million and also became the first renewable energy project carried out under Argentina’s Incentive Regime for Large Investments (RIGI).
The complex is located about 13 kilometers from Jocolí and just over 50 kilometers from the city of Mendoza, in one of the regions with the highest solar radiation levels in the country. From there, the generated energy is injected into the Argentine Interconnection System (SADI), supplying industrial and residential demand across different regions of Argentina.
More Than Half a Million Panels and Bifacial Technology
One of El Quemado’s central features is its operational scale. The park covers approximately 620 hectares and includes more than 511,000 bifacial photovoltaic panels distributed throughout the site. Bifacial technology allows the system to capture both direct solar radiation and radiation reflected from the ground, increasing energy efficiency compared to traditional systems.
The park was designed with an estimated capacity factor of 31.4%, a high value for solar projects in Argentina. This indicator reflects the relationship between the energy actually produced and the maximum theoretical generation potential, highlighting the expected efficiency of the Mendoza complex.
The infrastructure also includes 5,800 solar trackers that automatically orient the panels following the movement of the sun to maximize radiation capture throughout the day. In addition, the project incorporates 1,170 inverters and 40 transformation centers responsible for converting the direct current generated by the modules into alternating current suitable for transmission within the national electrical system.
International companies specialized in solar equipment participated in the technological scheme. Jinko Solar supplied the photovoltaic panels, Arctech Solar provided the trackers, and Huawei was responsible for the inverters and power electronic systems.
Connection to the Electrical Grid and Strategic Importance in Mendoza
Connecting the project to the Argentine Interconnection System required the construction of new electrical infrastructure specifically designed for the project. El Quemado incorporated a 220/33 kV transformer station and a GIS substation with double busbars and outputs for three transformers, developed together with Distrocuyo. The scheme also included the installation of approximately 180 kilometers of fiber optic cable to integrate the park’s control and protection systems.
According to data released by the company and the Government of Mendoza**, El Quemado’s annual production is equivalent to the electricity consumption of more than 233,000 households** and will prevent the emission of approximately 385,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
The commissioning of the complex also changed the scale of renewable generation in Mendoza. With the addition of El Quemado, the province surpassed 700 MW of installed solar energy and is already projecting more than 1,000 additional MW in different stages of development.
Provincial energy growth is also directly linked to the expansion of sectors with high electricity demand such as mining, oil, and industry. Alongside the development of new solar parks, Mendoza is also promoting strategic electrical transmission projects such as the Mendoza Norte Transformer Station, Valle de Uco facilities, and new high-voltage lines to expand the provincial system’s supply capacity.
Within YPF Luz’s strategy, El Quemado forms part of the company’s objective to surpass one gigawatt of installed renewable capacity in Argentina. The company has already confirmed that the Mendoza solar park was key to achieving that milestone and consolidating YPF as one of the country’s leading renewable energy generators.
