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ENERGY

The province receives almost all of its energy from the National Interconnected System. As a result of the lack of alternative generation sources, the system becomes more vulnerable.
Rural areas have the greatest difficulty supplying electricity due to the high cost of power lines, especially due to relief and distance.

In Catamarca, the provincial energy network is connected to the SIRNOA power grid via the Escava-Huacra-Capital power line and to the National Energy System via the Recreo-La Paz-San Martín-Capital power line. Both 132 KVs. The Departments of Andalgalá, Pomán, Belén, and Tinogasta are connected by the 132 KV line.

Villa Quinteros power station in Tucumán province connects Santa María department to the 220 KV line. El Bracho (in Tucumán) – Bajo La Alumbrera (Catamarca).
There have been various attempts to convert energy, but they are still insufficient to supply the whole province.

A number of photovoltaic solar power plants are located in the province. The last one built is located in Villa de Antofagasta de la Sierra called Parque Solar Fotovoltaico para la Villa de Antofagasta de la Sierra. The project benefits directly the department where the lithium exploitation project in the Salar del Hombre Muerto is located. First of its kind in the province, the solar park is financed by mining royalties and is 100% built by local firms.

In the graph below, you can see how the electric system is distributed, along with thermal power plants and photovoltaic plants.

mapa energia
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Alternative energy sources

Eolic, hydrogen and any other form of alternative energy known or not yet known, as well as the technology development, production and plants sale, central, equipment, technology, components, consumables for the generation and harnessing for this kind of energies.

The province intends to promote the development of the following alternative energies:

SOLAR ENERGY

The planet receives from the sun a huge amount of energy per year whereof only 40% is usable, this represents hundred of times the amount of energy that is consumed currently in the world; this source of energy can transform electricity in two different ways:

Thermal solar energy

it is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum from the obtained energy from the sun that produces heat. The transformation is performed by using thermal collectors.

Photovoltaic solar energy

it is the other part of the electromagnetic spectrum from the sun energy that produces electricity. The transformation is made through photovoltaic cells that cause an electric current flow.

The province of Catamarca has a high energy potential solar radiation, one of the best in the country to generate thermal and electric energy, this resource must be exploited for the technology development, production and sale of plants, central, equipment, technology, components, consumables for the generation and harnessing of these types of energies

Projects in pre-feasibility stage
LOS ZORROS SOLAR PARK

Location: Chañaritos locality, Capayán departament, provience of Catamarca- Argentina.

Amount: US$ 62.000.000

Power: 45 MW

Area: 300 Has

Execution period: 18 to 20 months.

Internal rate of return: 14%

Payback Period: 8 years.

LOS ZORRITOS SOLAR PARK

Location: Chañaritos locality, Capayán departament, provience of Catamarca- Argentina.

Amount: US$ 65.000.000

Power: 45 MW

Area: 300 Has

Execution period: 18 to 20 months.

Internal rate of return: 14%

Payback Period: 8 years.

LA PIRKA SOLAR PARK

Location: Chañaritos locality, Recreo departament of La Paz, provience of Catamarca- Argentina.

Amount: US$ 130.000.000

Power: 100 MW

Area: 300 Has

Execution period: 18 to 20 months.

Internal rate of return: 14%

Payback Period: 8 years.

Geothermal energy

The earth’s heat is considered an important natural resource. There are both geological and economic conditions in which this resource is feasible to be exploited in a satisfactory and profitable manner. Geothermal energy is seen through geological processes, such as volcanoes, geysers and thermal water manifestations. The potential types and uses depend greatly on the temperature of the resource. The applications for the use of geothermal energy are divided into three main sectors that depend on the geothermal fluids temperature:
⦁ High enthalpy geothermal energy (above 170 °C)
⦁ Medium enthalpy geothermal energy (between 100 – 170 °C)
⦁ Low enthalpy geothermal energy (between 20 – 100 °C)
Interest in Geothermal Energy has increased in Argentina since the Renewable Energy Law, year 2015.

Geothermal is also key for the following reasons:
• Catamarca has a native geothermal resource. Not all the provinces in Argentina have that possibility.
•Geothermal energy is a renewable resource. With the right management, the energy extraction can be balanced with a natural recharge from reservoirs.
• Geothermal is constant and basic energy. It is available around 95% in relation to the 365 days of the year.
• Geothermal energy is clean. Modern plants do not release greenhouse effect gasses.
• The implementation of native geothermal sources, on all the applied modalities, will have an environmental impact totally beneficial for the environment of the region, promoting the mitigation of the greenhouse effect gasses, fulfilling the assumed commitment in the United Nations Conference about climate change COP21.
The Province of Catamarca has a great potential of geothermal resources of diverse energetic capacities (enthalpic values). This would allow different energy exploitation activities to be carried out, from energy generation to the direct use of geothermal heat.

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