Uruguay plans to produce 1,000,000 tons per year
The Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining, Elisa Facio, pointed out that the green hydrogen industry means “a great opportunity for Uruguay.” Its development would generate a potential of 1.3 billion dollars in exports, he assured. At a working lunch, the leader also referred to the promotion of innovation, the energy transition and the actions implemented to improve people’s well-being. Facio pointed out that the ministry’s management is aimed at promoting the productive development of the country, as well as creating conditions so that companies can grow, create jobs and improve the quality of life of the population. As listed, to achieve this, the strategy is based on three pillars: innovation, sustainability and capacity building.
To consolidate the innovative system, the Uruguay Innovation Hub (UIH) program was implemented, he explained. Through this mechanism, several instruments were created, such as the hiring of an accelerator to support emerging companies (startups)a company builder, for those linked to biotechnology, co-investment funds for projects and open laboratories that offer platforms for entrepreneurs to develop their ideas.
In terms of innovation, he highlighted the country’s incorporation into the Patent Cooperation Treaty, which reversed the previous situation, whereby Uruguayan scientists had to patent their discoveries in other countries or chose not to publish them in scientific journals. Now they can do it, because Uruguay is part of the treaty that involves 158 countries, he indicated.
In another order, he made reference to the energy transition that, according to him, began in 1997, when the electricity market was created. Currently, Uruguay has a 94% renewable energy generation matrix, something that happens in very few countries, he said. Furthermore, 99.9% of the population is electrified, he added.
In any case, in the global matrix, 37% of the energy consumed is non-renewable, he said. To continue with decarbonization, actions have been implemented to promote energy efficiency and electric mobility. Among the measures adopted, the creation of the Sustainable Mobility Trust, incentives to increase the number of electric vehicles and the installation of chargers throughout the territory stood out.
Likewise, he considered that there are sectors such as heavy cargo transportation, maritime and air, that require other strategies. In this sense, he mentioned that the country has the opportunity to become a producer of green hydrogen and go from being an energy importer to an exporter. Uruguay has wind, solar photovoltaic and biogenic carbon dioxide capacity, he added.
“We can produce methanol or synthetic fuels, fertilizers or fuel for heavy transportation,” he said. According to estimates, the country could produce around 1,000,000 tons of hydrogen per year by 2040, which would generate a potential market of 1.3 billion dollars in exports and 540 million dollars in the local market. The projected investment is 18 million dollars and would generate more than 30,000 jobs.
