Southern Cone roundup: New wind capacity, energy matrix growth

Pepe VI turbines

Argentina’s Pampa Energía said seven turbines at its Pepe VI wind park in Buenos Aires province started commercial operations.

The units add 31.5MW, ramping up operational capacity to 45MW.

Pampa was recently given the green light to build a 500kV power line to dispatch output from Pepe VI, which is due to have total capacity of 140MW once completed. 

Pampa will finance and build the line under rules established in law No. 24,065 of 1992 and resolution No. 179 of 1998. One stipulation is that there is no expectation, even in the long term, of third parties seeking to share it.

Aluar turbines

In a similar announcement, Argentine aluminum producer Aluar said the fourth phase of its Chubut province wind park Aluar started commercial operations. 

The phase adds 81MW of capacity to the complex, ramping up the total to 246MW.

A fifth phase, involving a further 312MW, was being mulled, the company said earlier this year.

Sidersa power line

Argentine steel firm Sidersa has sought permission to build a 4.4km underground power line of 132kV in San Nicolás, Buenos Aires province, using the same mechanism as Pampa.

A public consultation is due to be held September 5.

Earlier this year Sidersa presented a US$300mn investment plan to government officials. Work involves building a combined steelmaking and rolling plant in San Nicolás.

Click here for more information on the public consultation 

Energy matrix growth

Uruguayan energy supply expanded 8% last year, according to the country’s national energy report, known as BEN.

Supply was 6.12Mt of oil equivalent, with biomass accounting for 46%, oil and derivates 38%, wind power 7%, hydropower 5%, imported power 2%, solar 1% and natural gas 1%.

The industrial sector, where pulp and paper production is the biggest energy user by a hefty margin, accounted for 48% of final energy consumption. 

A driver was the entrance into service of Uruguay’s third pulp plant, UPM II, and associated biomass-fired generation capacity, which boosted the country’s biomass park to 731MW from 419MW. 

Overall, in terms of electric power supply, renewables accounted for 92% and fossil fuels 8%.

Installed generation capacity stood at 5.26GW, up 7%. Hydropower accounted for 29%, wind 29%, fossil fuels 22%, biomass 14% and solar 6%.

Uruguay energy matrix CO2 emissions were down 1% from the previous year.