Uruguayan rural solar panels

Why is Uruguay a'relative energy sovereignty'?

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.

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.

Does Uruguay have a Green Power Revolution?

This article appears in the April 2025 issue, with the headline “Uruguay’s Green Power Revolution.” Much of the vast landscape of Uruguay remains true to its historical image—down to the lone gaucho roaming the pampas. But there have been some notable additions.

What percentage of energy is generated in Uruguay?

Hydroelectric accounted for nearly 56 percent of generation, wind 34 percent, bioenergy 6 percent, solar just under 3 percent, with fossil fuel coming in last at 2 percent. Wind energy came in second only to hydropower, accounting for nearly 34 percent of the energy generated in Uruguay that year.