What is the contribution of photovoltaic electricity to Argentina's grid system?

The first contribution of photovoltaic electricity to Argentina´s grid system occurred in 2011, with a participation of 0.0014% to the total electricity demand, which is a modest contribution to the 1% incidence of renewable energy (RE) at the time, which included small, i.e., ≤50 MW, hydroelectric plants .

Is there a gap between photovoltaic installations in Argentina?

This gap is, however, not static: different legal frameworks and governmental promotion programs have led to the deployment of large-scale and distributed off-grid photovoltaic installations, but they are at a volume (in terms of installed capacity) that lags years behind other countries with which Argentina shares relevant characteristics.

Why is solar thermal technology less developed in Argentine?

Solar thermal technology is even less developed, in part due to the low natural gas prices resulting from political strategies that aim to soften the impact of an unstable economy on family budgets. This review describes this gap by summarizing the current state of Argentine solar energy.

When did solar thermal energy become a key energy source in Argentina?

Solar thermal energy in Argentina was already considered a potential key energy source in 1975 , when a national R&D program for the development of solar energy and other renewables was launched, leading to numerous research programs (see next section) and the elaboration of norms and certification criteria for ST collectors .

Is PV development a 'window of opportunity' in Argentina?

PV development in Argentina was provided an initial ‘window of opportunity’ in 2006 by Law 26190 ‘National Promotion for the use of renewable sources of energy in the production of electricity’, which promoted the use of renewable energy sources to reach 8% of the Argentinean electric matrix by 2016 .

Should Argentina be more than a spectator in the energy transition?

In addition, given the ongoing financial difficulties, “Argentina’s dependence on imported equipment and essential components for photovoltaic installation due to an embryonic national industry in the sector” is a threat that should be addressed if the country is to be more than a spectator in the energy transition.