Uruguay is seeking proposals from international companies to build a 25 MW solar park in the Punta del Tigre area of San José, and eleven companies have already expressed interest in the project.
UTE Receives 11 Bids from Local and International Firms
Uruguay’s state-owned power company, UTE, received 11 proposals from a mix of domestic and international firms. The local contenders include Berkes, Ebital Construcciones, Impacto Construcciones, Ingener, MGI SA, Teyma Uruguay, and Ventus Ingenieria.
International bidders include Spain’s Cttech Engineering & Consulting SL and Prodiel Energy, alongside China’s DTW CO and the state-controlled Power Construction Corporation of China.
The country’s National Administration of Electric Power Plants and Transmissions (UTE) will now review the bids before awarding the contract. The project must be completed within 548 calendar days from its start date.
UTE Tender Requires Proven Experience in Large PV Projects
The tender’s technical requirements specified that bidders must have experience constructing and commissioning at least one photovoltaic park of 20 MW or more, or two separate PV parks of at least 10 MW each, within the last eight years.
Plans for the PV park involve installing the panels on ground-mounted iron bases at a height of approximately two meters.
UTE Plans $100M Investment in New Solar Parks by 2027
The National Administration of Electric Power Plants and Transmissions (UTE) aims to diversify Uruguay’s electricity generation matrix by adding new energy sources between 2025 and 2027. This strategy includes constructing two solar parks, one in San José and another in Cerro Largo, with an estimated investment of around US$100 million. These parks will join another project already in progress in the Maragato department.
UTE to Launch Tender for 75 MW PV Park in Cerro Largo
UTE also plans to launch a new public tender for a 75 MW PV park in Cerro Largo, near the Melo converter plant, under a medium-term turnkey model. According to UTE, the new capacity will be split across two sites: the 25 MW park on UTE-owned land in Punta del Tigre, San José, and the remaining 75 MW facility at a new location in the country’s north. The state-owned power company is also currently constructing its first solar park, with a capacity of 32 MW.
The panels for this project are of Chinese origin, supplied by South Korea’s Hyundai as part of a settlement following litigation between the two companies over the construction of a combined cycle plant. Upon completion, these projects will add 130 MW of photovoltaic solar capacity to the electrical grid.
Currently, Uruguay has approximately 1,500 MW of installed wind generation and around 250 MW of contracted solar energy, both of which contribute to the national electrical system.
