Uruguay’s Wind Development Program Attracted Private Investment to Transform the Power Sector

This case study by the World Resources Institute describes how Uruguay's Wind Energy Program, launched in 2007, used regulatory reforms and government funding to attract private investment and reduce reliance on fossil fuel imports, eventually making wind energy account for approximately 40% of the country's electricity.

• To address vulnerability caused by droughts in the early 2000s—which saw oil comprise 30%-40% of the power mix during severe years—the government launched the Uruguay Wind Energy Program in 2007. The program was funded by a $1 million Global Environment Facility grant and $6 million from the national budget.

APA

World Resources Institute (2024). Uruguay’s Wind Development Program Attracted Private Investment to Transform the Power Sector. https://www.wri.org/update/uruguay-net-zero-sectoral-policy-wind-development-private-investment

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Uruguay’s Wind Development Program Attracted Private Investment to Transform the Power Sector. 2024. https://www.wri.org/update/uruguay-net-zero-sectoral-policy-wind-development-private-investment.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Uruguay’s Wind Development Program Attracted Private Investment to Transform the Power Sector |date=22 August 2024 |url=https://www.wri.org/update/uruguay-net-zero-sectoral-policy-wind-development-private-investment |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitute2024uruguays, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Uruguay’s Wind Development Program Attracted Private Investment to Transform the Power Sector}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2024}, month = aug, url = {https://www.wri.org/update/uruguay-net-zero-sectoral-policy-wind-development-private-investment}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }