Uruguayan solar glass

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 many wind turbines are there in Uruguay?

Today, Uruguay has more than 700 wind turbines distributed throughout its territory. “At first glance, the change is seen in many areas of the country: You go down the road and see the modern windmills in rural areas,” Prats said. “Starting in 2010, with the variety of energy sources, and also renewable ones, blackouts became very rare.

Does Uruguay need a thermal power plant?

The country’s thermal power plants rarely need to be activated, except when natural resources are insufficient. Half of Uruguay’s electricity is generated in the country’s dams, and 10% percent comes from agricultural and industrial waste and the sun. But wind, at 38%, is the main protagonist of the revolution in the electrical grid.

Is Uruguay a big carbon emitter?

Uruguay was never a huge carbon emitter. When the South American country hit its highest carbon emissions ever in 2012, the average Uruguayan put 2.6 tons of carbon into the atmosphere; that same year, the average individual American carbon footprint was more than 16 tons.