Uruguay has increased its already impressive wind power capacity targets from 800MW to 1,000MW before 2015, with over half of that expected to be under construction by the end of 2012.
Uruguay already has a hydroelectric capacity of about 1,500MW, but started to develop wind power following a long lasting drought which reduced the volume of water available to power the hydroelectric generators.
On some windy summer nights Uruguay can now produce 80 to 90 percent of its electricity demand from wind power, however the hydroelectric plants will remain vital to offset any loss in power due to low levels of wind.
In 2011 they had just 43MW of wind power in operation, but plans are already underway to develop and extra 342MW's from six new wind farms, all of which will be up and running in 2014. The rest of the 1,000MW will come online in 2015.
Ramon Mendez Galain, the South America nation's energy secretary, admitted that such renewable energy targets were made easier due to the fact that Uruguay has a population of just 3.3 million; "because we're a small country, we can do things."
By. James Burgess of Oilprice.com
James Burgess studied Business Management at the University of Nottingham. He has worked in property development, chartered surveying, marketing, law, and accounts. He has also… More