A report from the Ministry of Industry, Energy, and Mining (MIEM) reveals that Uruguay will need to expand its capacity for renewable energy generation to meet the growing demand in the coming years. The document highlights the need to expand solar and wind farms to ensure the sustainable and efficient supply of the country.
Uruguay recorded a record energy consumption in 2024, with 99.1% of the production coming from renewable sources. The MIEM report, prepared with a technical and long-term approach, projects that energy consumption will continue to increase progressively, requiring new investments in electricity generation.
According to the analysis, the demand could be met until 2034 as long as 355 MW of wind energy and 545 MW of photovoltaic solar energy are incorporated. However, starting in 2035, annual consumption could reach 14,000 GWh, requiring additional installed capacity.
A second scenario considers the possible construction of a data center by Google or another similar company, which would accelerate consumption growth. In this case, the additional installed capacity should include 250 MW of solar and 540 MW of wind energy from 2033 onwards.
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Renewable Energies: An Economically Viable Bet
The MIEM report points out that the incorporation of new renewable sources is not only necessary but also economically beneficial. It is projected that solar energy will be a cost-effective alternative from 2025, while wind energy will be so from 2030.
Furthermore, the study highlights that the marginal cost of the electrical system would remain stable due to the predominance of renewable energies, with slight variations depending on water availability. “We are working on the planning of the national electrical system, ensuring the sustainability, reliability, and efficiency of energy supply in the country,” emphasizes the report.
A Record Year for Renewable Energies
2024 marked a milestone in renewable energy generation in Uruguay, with production close to 15,000 GWh. According to data from the National Administration of Power Plants and Electrical Transmissions of the State (UTE), 99% of the energy used in the country came from clean sources, reaching a record annual generation of 14,358 GWh.
The main boost came from the recovery of hydroelectric energy, which doubled its contribution compared to 2023, representing 50% of the total electricity generated. The Salto Grande dam increased its production by 90%, while the dams on the Río Negro (Rincón de Baygorria, Rincón del Bonete, and Palmar) grew by 145%. Additionally, wind energy represented 33% of the total generation with 4,728 GWh, produced in 40 parks distributed throughout the country, mostly privately owned.
With this performance and the demand growth projections, Uruguay faces the challenge of expanding its renewable infrastructure to consolidate its leadership in clean energies and ensure sustainable supply in the future.
Wind energy.
First Solar Park in Cuba Launched to Address Electricity Shortages
The vulnerability of the Cuban electrical system, which depends on over 90% non-renewable energies, left the country on the brink of collapse in recent months, with significant blackouts across the island, which has a population of 10 million inhabitants.
The eight obsolete thermal power plants in the country, mainly inaugurated in the 1980s and 1990s, constantly experience failures. Moreover, the floating plants leased to Turkish companies and the generators that complement the national energy system depend on fuel that Cuba imports with great difficulty and often faces scarcity.
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