Uruguay launches programme to reduce greenhouse gases in power generation

• 13 years ago (2011-11-04)
• David Flin

North America 1021 Renewables 776

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The Uruguay government has announced a $8.5 million programme called Probio that is intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced by the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity. The project is sponsored by the Uruguay government in conjunction with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the private sector, and will promote the use of forest waste to generate power.

The initiative will have the Ministries of Cattle Breeding, Agriculture and Fishing; Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM); and Housing, Territorial Order and Environment (MVOTMA) as executives, supported by UNPD specialists.

Roberto Kreimermann, Minister for Industry, Energy, and Mining, said that biomass is one of the raw materials that Uruguay will use to increase renewable usage, and that it will represent between 10-15 percent of the energy mix by 2015, in addition to 200 MW from the use of agro-industrial wastes to produce biogas.

Graciela Muslera, in charge of MVOTMA, said the initiative is part of the National Plan to Respond to Climate Change, and that the Probio Programme will empower the integration of the productive sector, improving profitability.

Uruguay has announced a very ambitious target of producing 90 percent of the electricity it consumes from renewable sources by the end of 2014.