SoWiTec Uruguay Projects Argentina Projects Brazil Projects Chile Projects Mexico Projects Peru back to Latin America Map	Uruguay’s economy demonstrated its resilience by bouncing back from a -11% GDP plunge during the 2001 - 2002 crisis to 11.8 % (2004), 6.6% (2005) and 7.0% in 2006 of growth. While Uruguay and its population of just above 3 million inhabitants is smaller than the neighbouring countries, the country’s economy is one of the most open to international business. The government is encouraging foreign trade and investment in all sectors of the country to further develop and strengthen the economy. With only 2,350 MW in generating capacity, Uruguay is struggling to meet the growing electricity demand. So far, demand peaks have been supplied by electricity imports from neighbouring Argentina and Brazil. As Brazil and Argentina are struggling to maintain their own domestic power supply, prices for imported power are rising. Electricity imports have become a national concern in Uruguay. With very little fossil fuel reserves and most of its hydropower potential tapped, Uruguay is seeking further power sources. As the sector is government controlled, the state run power supplier UTE is currently investigating the country's wind power potential together with the SoWiTec Urugay team located in Montevideo. Wind power can provide a sustainable, national energy resource to Uruguay. At this point, a reliable estimate of Uruguay's total wind power potential cannot be formulated. Wind measuring programs are under development. The 5% growth in electricity demand though results in a supply gap of 150 MW annually. In wind power terms at 40% efficiency, this represents a 375 MW market potential per year.
	SoWiTec Uruguay is currently developing a pipeline of 1,200 MW at some of the windiest sites across Uruguay. Provinces along the shore line are most attractive, though there are some promising in-land sites as well. The targeted provinces areindicated in the image.