AlmaSADI Call for Bids: Energy Storage Agreements

On March 2, 2026, the Secretariat of Energy enacted Resolution 50/2026, which launched the National and International Open Call for the Supply of Electric Energy through Storage Facilities for Reserve and Reliability in the Wholesale Energy Market (MEM) (AlmaSADI). The purpose of this measure is to award storage agreements to be entered into with Compania Administradora del Mercado Electrico Mayorista SA (CAMMESA) for the provision of capacity and operational and short-term reserves within the MEM.

In line with the objectives set forth in Law 24065, the call seeks to incorporate new battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Buenos Aires, center, La Pampa, Litoral, northeast (NEA), northwest (NOA), and Cuyo. The goal is to enhance the reliability of the Argentine Interconnection System (SADI) and reduce service interruptions, particularly during peak demand periods.

This measure follows the previous call for bids—AlmaGBA—launched through Resolution 67/2025 of the Secretariat of Energy, under which 713 MW of storage capacity were awarded at critical nodes in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Region (AMBA). Unlike that process—where the agreements were entered into with distribution companies (i.e., Edenor and Edesur) and CAMMESA acted as last-resort guarantor—under AlmaSADI, the agreements will be entered into directly with CAMMESA.

Following the bidding terms in Resolution 50, the storage agreements will have the following characteristics:

• Total capacity to be awarded: 700 MW, regionally allocated (BAS [150 MW], Central [100 MW], La Pampa [50 MW], NEA [250 MW], NOA [120 MW], and Cuyo [100 MW]).
• Validity: up to 15 years from the commercial operation date or from the target date (set for January 1, 2027), whichever occurs first.
• Capacity per project: minimum of 10 MW and maximum of 150 MW, or as specified for each connection node pursuant to annex 3 of the bidding terms.
• Minimum supply requirement: four consecutive hours for new BESS facilities.
• Income: calculated based on the following components:
  (1) available storage capacity, expressed in USD/MW-month, based on the bid value and other factors (including annual adjustment factors and seasonality)
  (2) energy supplied: USD 10/MWh,
  (3) energy for primary frequency regulation, for at least 30% of capacity, remunerated at USD 5/MWh.

From the year 2037 on, items (1) and (2) will be paid based on the Spot market.

It is also relevant to note that the maximum price is USD 12,500/MW-month.

Key dates to be considered:

• Clarification requests: March 6, 2026–April 17, 2026.
• Responses to clarification requests: March 13, 2026–April 24, 2026.
• Deadline for submitting bids and opening of Envelope “A” (bidder and project qualifications): May 8, 2026.
• Evaluation report of Envelope “A”: until May 21, 2026.
• Publication of prequalification results: May 28, 2026.
• Opening and evaluation of Envelope “B” (economic offer): June 5, 2026.
• Award: June 19, 2026.
• Execution of storage agreements: starting on June 25, 2026.

The AlmaSADI call for bids constitutes a competitive process aimed at incorporating large-scale battery energy storage within the MEM. The transition to a Spot market-based income scheme from 2037 on, together with the penalties and incentives regime set forth in the bidding terms, will be key factors to consider in the projects’ economic assessment.