Uruguay s new energy storage

Should Uruguay transition to renewables?

Since 2019, energy has become a significant export for Uruguay, with some years bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. In most of the world, when anyone mentions the need to transition to renewables, climate change dominates the public discussion.

What caused the recent increase of renewables share in Uruguay?

In this chapter, we characterize the causes that led to the recent increase of renewables share in Uruguay, we ask about the predominance of public or private property, the type of decentralization promoted by the new energy sources and account for the resulting modification of the development model.

What is Uruguay's energy model?

Uruguay’s model demonstrates that a just energy transition is attainable, emphasizing public-social capacities and a commitment to sustainability. Uruguay is a renewable energy world leader. During 2017, the total amount of its electricity supply came from renewable sources (only 2% was thermal energy).

How does Uruguay get its electricity?

To this day, Uruguay continues to rely heavily on its dams, including the imposing Salto Grande on the Río Uruguay, whose power is shared with Argentina, and several on the Río Negro. For decades, electricity from those dams and from generators running on gas and oil imported largely from Argentina and Brazil met Uruguayans’ energy needs.