Uruguay with 98% renewable electricity

Uruguay has become a transition benchmark in Latin America. In a World Economic Forum video reposted by Yoann Berno, the country appears with 98% of its electricity from wind, solar, biomass and hydropower, around 50 wind farms and about 50,000 green jobs, in a shift that began in 2008.

A renewable mix also has hard years. In February 2023, amid drought, ADME recorded imports from Argentina and Brazil above 50% of supply, according to MercoPress. On a day with 1,526 MW of demand, the country imported 34% from Brazil, generated 49% from wind and 7% from thermal plants.

Interconnection with neighbours absorbed the hydrological risk, because running diesel thermal plants was more expensive, according to the report.

Uruguay's lesson includes long term planning and also the backup network for a dry year. Renewables with interconnection are the combination that sustains the transition when rain fails.