Electricity in Uruguay in 2023

Uruguay has made remarkable strides in adopting low-carbon electricity, with an impressive 87% of its electricity generation coming from clean sources in 2023. The majority of this achievement is driven by wind energy, which contributes almost 35%, and hydropower, accounting for about 27%. Biofuels also play a significant part, providing more than a fifth of the electricity, while solar power rounds it out with more than 3%. In contrast, fossil fuels only account for around 10% of Uruguay's electricity, keeping carbon emissions relatively low. However, with the goal to electrify other sectors such as transport, heating, and industry, Uruguay will need to further boost its low-carbon electricity generation to meet the growing demand sustainably.

Suggestions

To increase its low-carbon electricity generation, Uruguay can focus on expanding its established wind energy capacity. Given that wind power already forms a substantial part of the country's clean energy portfolio, further investments in this technology could yield significant returns. Adding more wind farms, especially in areas with high wind potential, would not only enhance energy security but also reduce dependency on fossil fuels. Additionally, Uruguay could explore expanding solar power installations, especially since this technology has the potential to complement wind energy well by generating power during different times and conditions.

History

The journey of low-carbon electricity generation in Uruguay has seen multiple ups and downs, particularly in hydropower. In the early 1980s, Uruguay experienced moderate growth in hydroelectric power output, with significant increases in 1980 and 1983. This period was followed by fluctuations in the late 1980s and 1990s, including notable declines in 1988 and 1999. The early 2000s continued this trend of volatility, although 2007 stood out with a particularly large increase. The 2010s began with positive growth, specifically in 2010 and 2013, but again saw declines in subsequent years. More recently, from 2020 to 2023, hydropower generation experienced disheartening drops, indicating the need for diversification and strengthened investments in other reliable low-carbon technologies like wind and solar to stabilize and augment the electricity supply.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources