The Argentine Interconnection System (Spanish: Sistema Argentino de Interconexión, SADI) is a wide area synchronous grid that links the regional networks of all Argentinian provinces, with the exception of Tierra del Fuego. It is also connected to the power grids of several neighboring countries.[1][2][3][4]
The network is 20,296 kilometres (12,611 mi) long, of which 14,197 kilometres (8,822 mi) represent 500 kV power lines.[5] These power lines are operated by Transener.[6]
The interconnection system began by including transmission lines and substations built by AyEE, HIDRONOR and others constructed by private initiative. Those lines primarily linked the generation centers distributed along the country with the major consumption center in the Greater Buenos Aires area.[7]
In 1947, the General Direction of Water and Electric Power was created by presidential decree, with the task of planning, construction and operation of electrical power plants, transmission lines and substations.[8][9][10]
In 1960, Act 15336 (Electric Energy Law) is approved, recognizing a "National Interconnection Network" that would integrate all the country's regional networks. This would change the jurisdiction of those networks from a provincial to a national control. This new national network would be controlled by a new organism to be created, the Federal Council of Electric Power, under the national Energy & Fuel Secretary structure.[11][10]
This new organism would have representatives of the central government as well as the provinces and the City of Buenos Aires, intending to unify criteria and not only satisfy the interests of Buenos Aires.
In 1991, the State Reform law brought privatization for the energy companies, creating a new regulatory framework for the energy and utilities sector. This would be included in the 24065 Act, which created the Wholesale Energy Market and the National Electricity Regulatory Entity (ENRE).[12] It also creates a new public entity to regulate the Interconnection, the National Cargoes Dispatch (DNDC), which would incorporate in 1002 in the form of a sociedad anónima (a private corporation) with the name Compañía Administradora del Mercado Mayorista Eléctrico Sociedad Anónima (CAMMESA).[13]
According to the 2019 annual report by CAMMESA, that year the network showed the following figures:[5]
| Region | Annual Demand (in GWh) | Share % |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Buenos Aires | 48,553 | 37.7% |
| Littoral | 15,638 | 12.1% |
| Buenos Aires Province | 14,903 | 11.6% |
| Center (Cordoba and San Luis Provinces) | 11,240 | 8.7% |
| Northwest | 10,206 | 7.9% |
| Northeast | 9,294 | 7.2% |
| Cuyo | 8,050 | 6.2% |
| Patagonia (excl. Río Negro and Neuquén) | 6,078 | 4.7% |
| Comahue (La Pampa, Río Negro and Neuquén) | 4,943 | 3.8% |
| Total | 128,905 | 100% |
| Heat Source | Plant Type | Annual Power (in MW) |
|---|---|---|
| Hydraulic | Hydropower | 10,812 |
| Fossil fuel | Combined cycle | 11,245 |
| Natural Gas Turbine | 7,396 | |
| Steam Turbine | 4,251 | |
| Diesel | 1,653 | |
| Nuclear | Nuclear | 1,755 |
| Renewable Energy | Wind Power | 1,609 |
| Solar Energy | 439 | |
| Renewable hidraulic | 498 | |
| Biogas | 44 | |
| Biomass | 2 |
The system connects to several neighboring countries:
On 16 June 2019, a large-scale power outage struck most of Argentina, all of Uruguay, and parts of Paraguay. It was caused by an operational misbehavior from Transener, a transmission lines operator in Argentina.[15][16]
A short circuit which lowered demand, caused an excess of power generation in the grid, a lack of synchronization of power plants, loss of balance, and a low frequency in the network, triggering massive automatic disconnections from the grid. This caused a blackout that, in a matter of 30 seconds, came to affect 50 million users in the continent.[15]
