Argentina

• Argentina: ASADES’ Network for Solar Energy-

  Non-profit organisation ASADES has been promoting renewable energies in Argentina for 35 years. Nowadays, it is coordinating the efforts of the participating groups. Just recently, it has also launched a monthly newsletter. Solarthermalworld.org sat down with ASADES’ President Adolfo A. Iriarte to talk about the organisation’s work.

• Argentina: Rosario City Plans Public Building Solar Obligation-

  In July of 2011, the city council of Rosario - a city located between Buenos Aires and Santa Fé - agreed to establish a solar ordinance. However, to put it into practice, the authorities would have to also work out and publish an actual regulation. In December 2011, the environmentalist organisation Taller Ecologista, which put a lot of effort in getting the solar ordinance passed, published its recommendations on how to draft the regulation, including system definitions and technical specifications.
  Figure: Taller Ecologista

• Solar Argentina 2012, Buenos Aires- Solar Argentina 2012 is the first international fair for the photovoltaic, solar thermal and concentrating solar power industry in Argentina, and will take place from 3 to 5 July 2012 at La Rural, Buenos Aires Exhibition Center. The fair will take place alongside Green Expo Argentina, the event dedicated to other renewable energies (biogas, cogeneration, hydro-electrical, geothermal energy, biofuel, waste treatment) and Eolica Argentina, the wind energy expo and conference.
• Chile: Solar Energy Workshop for Latin America and the Caribbean-

  Amr M. Abdel Hai, Programme Officer for the Energy Branch of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (left), and Eduardo Noboa, Renewable Energy and Environment Coordinator from the Latin American Energy Organisation (OLADE), organised a two-day workshop with the aim to strengthen the solar water heating markets in Latin America and the Caribbean. A total of 46 solar thermal experts from several countries (Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Ecuador, Chile, Colombia, Nicaragua, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay) exchanged information, knowledge, lessons learned and successful experiences.
  Photo: OLADE

• Solar Water Heating Market Assessment. Regional Report (2012)-

  This report is a deliverable of the “Global Solar Water Heating Market Transformation and Strengthening Initiative”, jointly funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)and the International Copper Association. In Latin America the commitment for SWH deployment has been supported by the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE).

• Initiative for Transforming and Strengthening the Solar Thermal Water Heating Market in Latin America and Caribbean (2011)-

  This is a presentation made during the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) Regional Workshop of Solar Thermal Water Heating in Chile in June 2011. This presentation of Eduardo Noboa from OLADE, the Latin American Energy Organisation, passes in review the solar thermal market of different countries in South America: Brazil, Argentina, Barbados, Colombia, Nicaragua and Peru.

• Argentina: Mendoza Solar Conference Promotes Solar Cities-

  An organisation to support solar energy in Argentina is the Solar City Network (Red de Ciudades Solares), which places the emphasis on solar water heating. Part of their work consists of non-commercial conferences and exhibitions, which take place in various cities across the country. The latest event supported by the Solar City Network took place in Mendoza in November 2011 and attracted more than 600 visitors. Local media even spoke about 1,000 people visiting the Mendoza Solar.
  Photo: National University of Cuyo

• Argentina: NGO Promotes Solar Water Heaters in Social Housing-

  One organisation to promote solar water heaters in Argentina is the NGO Forum for Social Housing and Energy Efficiency (Foro de Vivienda Social y Eficiencia Energética, FOVISEE). The first 33 solar systems have already been installed in a social housing project in Moreno, a district of the country’s capital Buenos Aires. In the long term, FOVISEE aims to install 100 systems in the district – and is looking for a partner which will help finance the project. The photos show a family in Moreno who benefited from a solar water heater set up on their roof.
  Photo: FOVISEE

• Argentina: Solar Water Heaters for Rural Schools-

  In Argentina, Jorge Follari of Innovar SRL observes a rising interest in solar thermal energy. The federal and the province governments support the installation of solar water heaters in rural schools, and the interest of private customers grows, too – especially in the northern provinces, such as Corrientes, Salta, Tucumán, San Luis, Santa Fe and Catamarca. Compared to the commonly used gas bottles, a solar system pays off in 2 to 3.5 years. On the other hand, gas and electricity are highly subsidised.
  Map: Wikipedia Commons/Bleff

• Argentina: Market Situation and Barrier Analysis -

  Björn Nienborg, researcher at the German institute Fraunhofer ISE, has carried out a survey among solar collector manufacturers and importers in Argentina as part of his Master's study “Renewable Energy Management” at the University of Freiburg. His recently published “Solar Thermal Water Heaters in Argentina” gives a status report on the Argentine solar thermal market, as well as its manufacturers and suppliers. It is available as a detailed version in Spanish and a shorter one in English. The photo shows a 20 m² thermosiphon installations on the roof of a seminary in San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina.
  Photo: Björn Nienborg

• Solar Energy in Argentina (2007)-

  This document, published by INENCO Instituto UNSa-CONICET (Instituto de Investigación en Energías No Convencionales), provides an overview of solar energy in Argentina.

• Argentina: Grant Scheme for Solar Development and Research Projects-

  The National Agency for Scientific and Technological Promotion (Agencia) has invited tenders for solar R&D projects which will be financed with the help of a new grant scheme. In order to be eligible for the funds, the project has to use one of the following three technologies: solar thermal, photovoltaics or Concentrating Solar Power. Applications can be submitted until 11 April 2011.

• Solar Thermal Energy in Argentina (2009)-

  This report has been arranged by the TECH4DCM project which is financed by the European Union (EU) FP6 (Sixth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development). This EU Project focuses on promoting solar thermal energy and is being carried out in five countries; Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru. The project’s primary goal is the promotion of renewable and efficient energy technologies, paying special attention to overcoming technological barriers

• Solar Thermal Energy in Buenos Aires – Obstacles and Suggestions for Better Market Penetration (2007)-

  This presentation from Argentina’s Fundación Energías Limpias y Desarrollo in 2007 gives an overview of the first solar thermal investments in Buenos Aires in the 1980s and 1990s, together with an assessment of the main obstacles and the overall evolution of solar thermal energies in Argentina’s capital. According to this presentation, in the '80s, solar thermal devices were implemented mostly on district level (schools, public pools) and only in the ‘90s private housings started to include this technology (heating, hot water and pool heating).

• Proposal for Ordinance on Solar Collectors in Rosario, Argentina (2007)-

  This presentation by Dr Pablo L. Javkin made during the congress “IV Foro Regional de Energìas Renovables” held in 2007 in Uruguay, describes a proposal for an ordinance promoting the use of solar collectors in the Argentinean city of Rosario.

• R-energy, Buenos Aires- R-energy is a global initiative to create a comprehensive expo and congress network for the renewable energy industry. During the events visitors will find exhibition areas dedicated to wind energy, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, hydrogen, biofuels, biogas, etc. The first two editions of R-energy will be held in Buenos Aires and one week later in Sao Paolo. Both editions of R-energy will offer a conference programme with lectures on the latest trends and developments in business and academic sectors of renewable energy in Argentina and Brazil.
• World Bank/GEF solar home system projects:experiences and lessons learned 1993–2001- Twelve projects provide energy services to off-grid rural households in developing countries by enhancing markets for solar home systems and by removing barriers to their dissemination. Project approaches are reviewed, along with early implementation experience and lessons suggested by experience. Go to Document