Argentina’s Patagonia is attracting proposals for large AI data centers because it combines a cool climate, open land and access to hydropower, wind and shale gas. Two energy developers are discussing projects measured in hundreds of megawatts, though the plans remain at an early stage.
Pampa Energía is seeking investors for a facility of up to 500 megawatts in Neuquén province. Interested customers would begin with 20 to 40 megawatts, and first contracts are expected by the end of 2026. The grid infrastructure needed for the full plan would cost about $900 million. Green Capital, a Polish company, wants to start with 300 megawatts in Chubut and ultimately reach 3,000 megawatts.
OpenAI also announced a project with Sur Energy in October, but that agreement has not yet been signed. Argentina has seen little public opposition to server farms so far, in part because it has few large facilities.
Several obstacles could reshape the plans. The region needs grid connections and undersea data cables, and investment conditions may change after the 2027 presidential election. Mapuche families live near Pampa’s proposed site and have previously clashed with energy companies, making local consent another unresolved issue.