Energy Situation Uruguay

Brief investigation on Uruguay’s energy situation





Viktoria Santos
Final rapport Global energy perspectives Uppsala UniversityIntroduction
Alchemists have for long time been trying to make gold in an artificial way. Engineers are the modern alchemists, as energy is becoming as valuable as gold. With oil prices rising and an uncertain energy future, all ways to generate energy are being evaluated. Now are the alchemists trying to finds the most effective and sustainable way to solve energy issues in different areas, asevery area has different conditions for sustainable energy generation.
According to various articles is there a crescent tendency from important actors in renewable energies to establish in South America (1). It is not strange that it finally happens as there are plenty of factors that make renewable a first option in those countries. As long as until now, has it not been profitable, but with thecurrent economic situation in Europe and USA, and South Americas ` stable` situation does the region became more attractive for investors.
This rapport focus on one of the South American countries, one of the smallest, but with one of the most growing economies of the continent, Uruguay.

Energy situation nowadays
Uruguay is plagued by a lack of fossil fuel resources, as stated by Uruguay’sSecretary of Energy Ramón Méndez during the Clean Energy Congress in March 2011; Uruguay has “no oil, no natural gas, and no coal.”
One of the most important issues for the Uruguayan government is to develop a sustainable energy policy. There are many groups working to evaluate sustainable energy sources. Specialist from the government, environmentalists, University and the Electricity Companyowned by the State (UTE), but the responsible for the monitoring of all the activities is the industry and energy ministry, which is helped by the statistical institute.
Among the causes for the decision to have 50% renewables by 2020, stated in the country`s energy policy, are for example: clean energy, local production (job opportunities) sustainability and so on. In my opinion is there a hugecause, there is plenty of opportunities for the country to be independent from energy imports, and with oil fluctuation price, problems with border countries, and a stable economy, Uruguay does best in invest in exploitation of some of the renewable.
The goal of 50% renewables sounds quiet high in a global perspective. But the truth is that it really is an accessible objective. Following chartshows the actual energy consumption in the world and in the country.


Fig 1-2 Global energy consumption/ Uruguay energy consumption by sources
Whereas global use of hydroelectricity is round 2%, this source is 20 % of Uruguay’s total source. Wood plays also an important role in the total consumption. There is still an enormous potential in biofuels as (ethanol and biodiesel), wind power andsolar thermal energy. The aim of this rapport is to study the feasibility of 50% renewables by 2020, and how it could affect the country’s economy. As the most important possibilities are wind power, solar thermal energy and bio generation, these three possibilities will be detached. Photovoltaic was intentionally excluded because the elevated costs still made it unprofitable in the country.Energy situation in Uruguay
The mayor energy source in the country is hydroelectricity but the full generation potential is reached, and as the demand is increasing, Uruguay is lacking energy.
The grid in Uruguay is reaching 98% of the total population, and is well working, with minimal interruptions. The aim of the new energy policy is to create an independent system (not buy electricity from...