Uruguay Civilian Solar Power Generation System

Once reliant on exorbitantly priced fossil fuel imports for nearly half of its energy needs, Uruguay has gone from suffering frequent blackouts and power cuts to relative energy sovereignty based almost entirely on electricity generated from a stable mix of wind, solar, hydroelectric, and bioenergy sources.

In 2016, even before several more renewables projects went online, it hit 94.5 percent green energy. In 2019, according to an analysis by the Uruguayan company SEG Engineering, the country ran on 98 percent renewable energy.

Ramón Mendéz Galain believes so. Uruguay's former national director of energy in the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining, who was the impetus for the country's shift away from dirty fuels, has been promoting the country's success as a repeatable framework of energy sovereignty for developing countries.

Once a net importer of energy, Uruguay now exports its surplus energy to neighbouring Brazil and Argentina. In less than two decades, Uruguay broke free of its dependence on oil imports and carbon emitting power generation, transitioning to renewable energy that is owned by the state but with infrastructure paid for by private investment.

Going for gales: Wind turbine farms are one of the ways Uruguay managed to generate 97 percent of its electricity from renewable sources. (Courtesy of Natasha Hakimi Zapata)

The true transformation began with a bold bet on wind energy. By 2008, Uruguay was experiencing economic growth that outpaced its existing energy supply. As demand surged, blackouts became more frequent, leading to increased electricity bills and the implementation of rationing measures.