Before the end of the year, San Juan will launch the country’s first solar panel manufacturing plant, as confirmed by Lucas Estrada, president of Energía Provincial Sociedad del Estado (EPSE).
The state-owned company, responsible for managing production, transportation, and distribution of energy, leads this initiative that aims to strengthen renewable infrastructure and reduce costs in the expansion of the provincial electrical grid.
Mining and clean energy: a strategic alliance for development
Historically linked to gold and silver mining, San Juan now plans to move towards the extraction of strategic minerals such as copper, essential for clean technologies.
With less than a million inhabitants and 4838 registered mining jobs in 2024, the province was the second in mining exports between 2019 and 2023, according to official data.
Representatives of EPSE and the mining sector agree that renewable energy generation and solar technology manufacturing are solid complements for mining development. “We have one of the best solar radiation rates in the world. We can become a hub for the renewable industry,” says Estrada.
San Juan, leader in solar generation nationwide
Thanks to sustained political decisions, San Juan has 66.4% of installed solar power, according to Cammesa data, the administrator of the Argentine wholesale electricity market. The rest is divided among large hydroelectric plants and, to a lesser extent, thermal power plants, like a 30 MW plant that only operates during peak demand.
Since 2017, the province stopped importing electricity and became a net exporter, achieving a positive balance between generation and consumption. The current focus is on increasing available power, especially to supply the energy demand of the mining sector, as part of the San Juan Solar Project, initiated in 2007 to take advantage of the high heliophany of the region.
Argentina’s first solar panel factory prepares for production[/caption>
From solar parks to industrial production: milestones of a comprehensive energy policy
In 2011, San Juan inaugurated the first solar park in South America, San Juan 1. Currently, there are 21 operational solar parks and five under construction, most developed in partnership with private companies that lease land and manage operations.
The solar panel factory, on the other hand, is a strategic state project, designed to supply local infrastructure, reduce costs, and strengthen the electrical grid. Additionally, Estrada anticipates seeking to export components and establish links with international actors, especially from China, Europe, and the United States.
An expanding solar economy
“We are going to transform San Juan’s economy by investing mining resources in renewable energies,” says Estrada, who highlights milestones such as the completion of the first wind farm, the development of provincial solar and wind maps, and the progress of the solar panel factory.
This development model aims to integrate energy production, technological innovation, and territorial sustainability, positioning San Juan as a national benchmark in energy transition.
Cover photo: Dialogue Earth
