Uruguay SNAPSHOT BY COUNTRY

Uruguay generates over 98% of its electricity from renewable energy sources. The country is going through its “second energy transition” to decarbonize the rest of the energy consumption that still depends on fossils, particularly transportation.

The country has featured green hydrogen in its Long Term Climate Strategy and launched a call for pilot projects that is still underway. Although these initiatives are focused on domestic applications, authorities expect them to serve as a learning curve to help train technicians in the world of hydrogen. The intention is for green hydrogen to be a transitional, clean energy that has no environmental collateral.

The roadmap 2040 document includes the long term strategy of the country for the production and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives. The country has comparative advantages that will allow it to position itself as a supplier of green alternative fuels to new markets, such as its already developed renewable energy sector. It also has very good conditions for the development of green hydrogen and derivatives, and it is projected that, by 2040, it will be able to invoice around US $2 B, in all this new industry, and potential to generate more than 30,000 quality jobs.

News And Initiatives

H2U pilot, an official strategy that can be applied both in heavy transport and in the production of ammonia and green fertilisers.

Tambor Green Hydrogen Hub, by the German company Enertrag, in cooperation with the Uruguayan SEG

Ingeniería, the project consists of a plant for the production of green hydrogen and derivatives such as methanol, in the department of Tacuarembó.

Ancap, the state‑owned oil and gas company of Uruguay, is getting ready to launch a series of offshore green hydrogen and wind tender rounds in 2023. The goal is to build a maritime hydrogen production hub driven by its large offshore wind potential calls for businesses with experience in offshore wind, hydrogen, or deepwater oil and gas.

The tender would initially offer 10 blocks of 500 km2 each, each block has the potential to install 2 3 GW of wind power and produce 320,000 t/y of green hydrogen.