DYNAMICS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY NICHE BUILDING PROCESSES IN ARGENTINA

PHILIPP SCHAUBE; WILLINGTON ORTIZ; CLAUDIO PASSALIA

Wuppertal

Conferencia; 7th International Sustainability Transactions Conference; 2016

Over the last ten years, a multitude of pressures are challenging the fossil fuel-based power system of Argentina. The present situation is characterized by a ceaseless increase in electrici-ty demand (around 1 GW/yr in the last ten years), an unreliable supply of power, a strong de-pendence on fossil fuels and the rapid decrease of Argentina?s domestic natural gas reserves (Esteves 2011, Recalde 2015). Fostering the transition towards higher shares of renewable energy in the Argentinian energy system offers a wide range of development prospects for Argentina. The opportunities arise from actions aimed at reducing the dependence on fossil fuels imports, improving the reliability of the power supply, strengthening the existing inno-vative industrial sectors and ensuring access to reliable power services for around 1,1 Million people in rural areas that have no access to the national power infrastructure. Despite signifi-cant natural potentials of renewable energy and previously stated political intentions to reach a share of 8% in electricity generation from renewable sources by 2016, the current rate is only 1,23% (CAMMESA 2014).