When wind generates electricity – renewable energy from Patagonia
Manantiales Behr Wind Farm, Argentina
The Manantiales Behr wind energy project in the province of Chubut (Patagonia, Argentina) aims to provide renewable electricity from wind power and feed it continuously into the national grid over the long term.
By generating wind power, the project avoids emissions that would otherwise have occurred from electricity generation in thermal power plants and from fossil energy sources. The climate impact arises directly from displacing conventional grid electricity generation.
The wind turbines feed renewable electricity into the grid continuously over their technical lifetime. In this way, the project makes a measurable contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector and strengthens the share of clean energy in an electricity system that has historically been strongly shaped by fossil generation.
A project that shows how wind energy can effectively support climate action—designed for the long term, implemented transparently, and delivering a traceable impact.
Technical project data – VCS1820
The key facts about the wind energy project in Argentina at a glance.
| Parameter | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Project location | Argentina; Province of Chubut; near Comodoro Rivadavia (Patagonia) | PD, Section “Location of Project Activity” |
| Project type | Grid-connected wind power project (onshore) | PD, Section “Project Description” |
| Project standard | Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) | Verra Registry |
| Project developer | YPF Luz (YPF Energía Eléctrica S.A.) | PD, Section “Project Description” |
| Installed capacity | approx. 99 MW | PD, Technical Description |
| Baseline scenario | Electricity supplied via the Argentine grid without the project; emissions arise from the existing, predominantly fossil-based grid mix (displacement approach). | Project Design Document (PDD), chapter “Baseline Scenario and Additionality” / “Applied Methodology” (ACM0002) |
| Methodology | ACM0002 – Grid-connected electricity generation from renewable sources | PD, Section “Applied Methodology” |
| Crediting period | 10 years (renewable crediting period) | Verra Registry |
| Project status | Registered VCS project with regular verification | Verra Registry |
| Main impact mechanism | Avoidance of CO₂ emissions through feeding renewable wind electricity into the grid | Project Description, Section 2 (Project Activity) |
| Monitoring & verification | Regular monitoring of electricity generation and independent verification by accredited auditors | Monitoring & Verification Reports |
| Additionality | Additionality demonstrated via investment and barrier analysis | PD, Additionality Section |
| Permanence & risk management | Technical emission avoidance over the equipment lifetime; no physical permanence required | Energy project type |
| Carbon credit rating | No external, independent carbon credit rating currently published | Verra Registry |
| Carbon credit rating type | No project-specific external rating or classification indicated | – |
| Article 6 authorization (Paris Agreement) | No authorization under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement indicated | Verra Registry |
| CCP status (ICVCM) | No CCP classification currently published | ICVCM |
| Approach to double-counting risks | Emission reductions uniquely recorded in the Verra registry; no multiple claiming | VCS Rules |
| Long-term nature of emission reductions | Continuous emission avoidance over the technical lifetime of the wind turbines | Project Description |
| Contribution to national climate strategy | Supports the expansion of renewables and emission reductions in Argentina’s power sector | PDD, section “Host Country Context” |
| Risk management & safeguards | Operation, maintenance, monitoring, and verification in line with VCS requirements | PD & Verification Reports |
What the project can contribute
Here we summarize what the wind energy project in Argentina achieves in practice—and why that matters for the climate.
- 1
Strengthening domestic renewable electricity generation
Argentina still covers part of its electricity demand with fossil-based generation. Manantiales Behr increases domestic electricity production from renewable energy and reduces the need for conventional generation.
- 2
Anchoring wind power in the electricity system
Operating a large-scale wind farm establishes wind power as a fixed component of Argentina’s power mix. The project expands the generation structure with a climate-friendly, competitive technology.
- 3
Diversifying and stabilizing the energy mix
Wind power complements existing generation types in both time and technology. The additional feed-in supports diversification of the power mix and a more robust energy supply.
- 4
Providing investment confidence for renewable energy
The long-term project setup, clear operating processes, and accompanying climate finance provide planning certainty. This strengthens confidence in further investments in renewable energy projects in Argentina.
- 5
Documenting climate impact in a measurable way
Electricity generation and the resulting emission reductions are systematically recorded, calculated using an approved methodology, and independently verified. This makes the climate impact traceable and reliably substantiated.
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Global climate relevance
Long-term emission avoidance through continuous operation
The wind farm generates renewable electricity over many years. The climate impact is continuous—with every kilowatt-hour fed into the grid over the full technical lifetime of the turbines.
A high-leverage mechanism in the power sector
The power sector is one of the world’s largest emitters. Renewable wind energy targets this sector directly and avoids emissions where large volumes of CO₂ would otherwise be produced.
Clear, verifiable impact logic
Emission reductions are based on measured electricity generation, defined grid emission factors, and independent verification. This makes the climate impact traceable and robust.
Contribution to structural transformation
Large-scale wind projects like Manantiales Behr support the long-term transition of power systems toward low-carbon generation—not as a one-off effect, but as part of lasting structural change.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – The relevant and the complementary contributions
Beyond avoiding greenhouse gas emissions, the Manantiales Behr wind farm in Chubut (Patagonia, Argentina) contributes to expanding renewable power generation, strengthening energy supply, and reducing fossil dependencies in the electricity system. In doing so, the project supports several goals of the UN 2030 Agenda (Sustainable Development Goals). The core contributions relate to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). Additional goals are supported in a complementary or indirect way. Some SDGs should be considered marginal contributions, as they are not central to the project’s core purpose.
The project generates wind power and feeds it into Argentina’s electricity grid. In doing so, it expands the energy mix with a renewable energy source and supports the long-term availability of lower-carbon electricity.
Contribution:
Provision of grid-connected renewable energy and strengthening of a cleaner power mix.The climate impact results from avoided emissions in the power sector: the wind electricity fed into the grid displaces electricity from the existing grid mix. Emission reductions are calculated based on the actual electricity generated and delivered to the grid, and documented through monitoring and independent verification under the VCS process.
Contribution:
Avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions by displacing conventional electricity generation in the grid.As an energy infrastructure project, the wind farm contributes to expanding modern generation capacity. It supports the development and operation of technical infrastructure for renewable energy (e.g., operation, maintenance, grid integration).
Contribution:
Support for modern energy infrastructure through the expansion of renewable generation capacity.Construction, operation, and maintenance require labor and technical services. This can support local employment and economic activity, but it is not the primary focus of the project’s climate impact.
Contribution:
Employment and value-creation effects linked to the construction and operation of renewable energy assets.Indirectly, the project can help ensure that electricity consumption (e.g., in households and businesses) is met with a higher share of renewable energy. However, a direct focus on consumption patterns or production processes is not part of the project’s core scope.
Contribution:
Indirect support for lower-carbon electricity use—without direct influence on consumption or production decisions.
How CO₂ Savings Are Generated
Clean electricity from renewable energy projects replaces fossil-based power. The emissions avoided through this shift can be measured and form the basis for issuing carbon credits.
Renewable power changes the overall energy mix: every kilowatt hour produced by wind, solar or hydropower reduces the need for electricity from coal, gas or oil.
The amount of CO₂ emitted per kilowatt hour varies by country and by fuel type. These official grid emission factors make it possible to calculate how much CO₂ would have been released without the renewable energy project.
For each project, the expected fossil share is compared with the clean electricity actually delivered. The difference shows the verified emission reductions — the real CO₂ savings. These values are reviewed by independent auditors, updated regularly, and form the certified basis for carbon credits.
Context and Transparency
This wind project is registered under the Verra Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and is regularly monitored and independently verified in accordance with the standard. The reported emission reductions are based on audited monitoring reports and an approved methodology for calculating emissions avoided by grid-connected wind electricity compared with conventional electricity generation in the grid. The project exemplifies climate action measures in the energy sector that are measurable, transparent and designed for long-term impact.
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