The Province of Buenos Aires has given the green light to a project that will mark a turning point in the country's renewable energy sector: The first Argentine wave energy device will be developed and installed. on a full-scale scale on the Atlantic coast. The initiative, promoted by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Services through the Undersecretariat of Energy, will be coordinated with the National Technological University (UTN) and the Buenos Aires Regional Energy Forum (FREBA).
The team will be located in the North Breakwater of the Port of Mar del Plata, with the aim of testing its performance under real-life conditions, generating data and providing electricity in the immediate surroundings. Funding will come through the Provincial Program of Incentives for the Generation of Renewable Distributed Energy (PROINGED), whose resources come from the renewable tariff aggregate paid by users on their electricity bill. The on-site start-up is planned for between the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026.
Location and actors of the project
The agreement was signed in Buenos Aires Center for Renewable Energy and brought together key institutions for its implementation. The Undersecretary of Energy participated, Gaston Ghioni; the president of FREBA, Fernando Pini; the Secretary General of the Forum, Gustavo Piuma Justo; the dean of the UTN Regional Buenos Aires, Guillermo Oliveto; and the PROINGED coordinator, Ricardo Lospinnato. This collaboration scheme strengthens the link between the State, the university and the productive sector.
In addition to positioning Mar del Plata as a benchmark testing ground, the initiative seeks diversify the provincial and national energy matrix with tecnologÃa de local developmentThe UTN brings more than a decade of experience in research and prototyping, which will now be transferred to the real marine environment for validation.
How the wave power equipment will work
The device is based on a buoy that captures the movement of the wavesThis back and forth motion is transmitted by a lever arm to a conversion system that transforms the mechanical energy into electricity. A structure with fixed and moving parts will be mounted on the breakwater, designed to resist the action of the sea and operate continuously.
In the initial phase, the set will allow measure the energy generated and power lighting points in the installation area, in addition to recording operational data to optimize the design. This on-site testing approach makes it possible to fine-tune the engineering and evaluate performance under various wave conditions.
Funding and programs that make it possible
PROINGED provides the funds for R&D and implementation, managed by the Undersecretariat of Energy together with FREBA. These resources come from the renewable tariff aggregate included in the electricity bills of the Province of Buenos Aires, which allows for the promotion of strategic pilots with technological and productive impact.
In addition, the provincial innovation policy —with instruments such as the Buenos Aires Technological Innovation Fund (FITBA)— aims to consolidate local value chains, encourage patents and promote knowledge transfer from university to industry.
Project status and next steps
La UTN Regional Buenos Aires accumulates more than ten years of research in wave energy and obtained patents related to the system in 2019. The team already has key components manufactured and tested at scale, while a construction company is working on the remaining parts. The goal is to complete the assembly, perform final checks, and proceed to the installation at the North Breakwater within the planned schedule.
According to the planning, the pilot will serve to validate performance, reliability and costs compared to other renewable sources. Based on these results, the technology is planned to be scaled up with multiple units or false breakwaters with generators, taking advantage of the coastline at different points and potentially injecting energy into nearby networks.
Impact on the energy matrix and opportunities
Today, near the 16% of national electricity consumption comes from non-conventional renewables, with wind and solar power predominating. Wave power offers a more predictable resource than wind and sun, and a high energy density, making it a candidate to complement the mix in coastal areas.
In addition to electricity, such systems could feed desalination processes or supply energy to coastal facilities and port infrastructure. In the medium term, the accumulation of experience opens the door to specialized research centers and new industrial applications linked to the sea.
Technical and social challenges to consider
The main challenge lies in the robustness of the equipment against corrosion, extreme waves, and maintenance in saline environments. The device's engineering must balance efficiency, durability, and cost to achieve competitiveness compared to other renewables.
In parallel, coexistence with the usual uses of the breakwater - tourism, fishing and port transit - requires coordinated work with the community and local authorities. The pilot will allow for adjustments to safety, signage, and operational aspects, ensuring orderly integration into the surrounding environment.
With a public-academic collaboration scheme and a realistic testing plan, Mar del Plata is emerging as the starting point of the Argentine wave energy industry: an applied innovation project that seeks to diversify the matrix, generate its own knowledge and explore a marine resource with room to grow if experience confirms its technical and economic viability.
