Uruguay leads the green revolution: ‘The Guardian’ highlights its energy example for the world

Uruguay’s fast transition to wind power was highlighted by the prestigious English newspaper “The Guardian” in a recent article entitled Uruguay’s green power revolution: rapid shift to wind shows the world how it’s done.

“Uruguay now produces up to 98% of its electricity from renewable sources - can other countries follow suit?” the text begins.

In the 2000s, fossil fuel prices rose worldwide, and Uruguay faced the challenge of meeting its energy demand. Over about a decade and leveraged by a solid and reliable economic context, the Uruguayan government installed around 50 wind farms nationwide, decarbonizing the grid and strengthening its hydropower.

“Uruguay is a small country, about 26% smaller than the UK in area, caught between two giants. Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, lies 50 km south of the mouth of the Rio de la Plata, which forms part of the border between the two countries, while Uruguay shares its northern border with Brazil. In this context, the country is easily overlooked. Economically, however, it is a South American success story. According to the World Bank, its GDP per capita was £16,420 in 2022, the highest on the continent (...) The country has a growing middle class, which represents approximately 60% of the population, and there are high expectations in terms of lifestyle and opportunities,” states the article signed by Sam Meadows.

The article highlights some of the country’s advantages for its energy transition, such as, for example, being “blessed by nature” with strong winds and considerable hydroelectric power, which is sometimes sold to Brazil when there is a surplus.

“Unlike some countries in the region, Uruguay is very stable politically, which made long-term investment much more acceptable to foreign companies,” as quoted by “The Guardian.” Its relatively high tax rates on imports also act as an incentive for foreign investment.
Also, Uruguay moved to the second stage of its energy transition. It is gradually switching its public buses and vehicles to electric and encouraging cab and rental car drivers to do the same.

“The effectiveness of this could provide a global roadmap for how other countries can decarbonize their economies,” says “The Guardian.”

Click here to read the Guardian article.