Uruguay Takes Center Stage in Green Hydrogen at World Hydrogen Summit 2024

Uruguay XXI participated in the World Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition 2024 in the Netherlands with a delegation led by the Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining, Elisa Facio, the National Director of Industries, Susana Pecoy, the National Director of Energy, Christian Nieves Lauz and authorities from institutions linked to the development of the energy sector in Uruguay, representatives of ALUR, ANCAP, ANP, Latitud - LATU Foundation, MIEM and UTE, who shared a working agenda and meetings with counterparts.

More than 30 representatives of Uruguayan companies were part of the private sector delegation coordinated by Uruguay XXI.

The World Hydrogen Summit is the largest international event in the hydrogen sector, which brings together companies from the entire value chain and government representatives to promote agreements and develop hydrogen-related projects.

Uruguay had a country booth that attracted numerous sector actors and governmental figures. The purpose of this participation was to continue positioning Uruguay on the international scene as a future producer of green fuels (e-fuels) and other green hydrogen derivatives, to make the country known as an investment destination for sector activities, and to disseminate the projects already underway, such as the plant in Paysandú of the Chilean company Highly Innovative Fuels Global (HIF Global) and the Tambor Green Hydrogen Hub project in the department of Tacuarembó of the German company Enertrag for methanol production; as well as Kahirós, led by the companies Ventus, Fraylog and Fidocar, and H24U, of the companies Saceem, CIR, and Fraylog, local projects of forest transport with hydrogen trucks.

Uruguay has established itself as a leader in green energy production. Over the last decade, it transitioned its energy system, enabling renewable sources like wind, biomass, photovoltaic, and hydroelectric to cover 98% of the annual electricity demand.

With sustained economic growth, social and political stability, forward-looking legislation, and exceptional natural resources, Uruguay stands out in the global renewable energy arena. The country is seeking to complete its energy transformation by developing green hydrogen and promoting electric mobility.

Uruguay offers favorable conditions for this goal, such as water and biogenic CO2 derived from biomass, adequate infrastructure, attractive tax incentives, and a strong government commitment to sustainability.
In cooperation with the Netherlands, Uruguay organized an event parallel to the World Hydrogen Summit to present the country’s potential in producing green hydrogen and its derivatives. Country representatives presented progress on the roadmap for green hydrogen, private projects, and concrete studies related to the sector.