Uruguay has unveiled the construction plans for the Melo Solar Photovoltaic Park in the department of Cerro Largo, which is set to become the country’s largest solar PV facility, with more than 75 MW of installed capacity and an investment of over US$75 million by state-owned utility UTE (Administración Nacional de Usinas y Trasmisiones Eléctricas).
UTE has been developing the project since 2023, when the site was selected, and grid capacity was reserved. The process then moved through the necessary stages until late 2025, when the utility signed a contract with the Teyma-Prodiel consortium, the winning bidder responsible for the project.
The contract covers engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), as well as operation and maintenance services for two years. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2028 and is expected to create more than 100 jobs. Once operational, the solar plant will supply electricity to around 65,000 consumers.
The facility will feature approximately 140,000 solar panels equipped with tracking systems mounted on structures designed to optimise tilt according to the sun’s position, improving generation performance. Electricity generated by the modules will be transmitted through direct current circuits before being converted into alternating current, stepped up to medium voltage and connected to the grid.
Power generated by the project will be injected into Uruguay’s National Interconnected System through a new 150 kV connection at the Melo B Substation, where output will be monitored to manage plant performance and support grid integration.
Key project metrics
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Project | Melo Solar Photovoltaic Park |
| Location | Cerro Largo, Uruguay |
| Capacity | More than 75 MW |
| Investment | Over US$75 million |
| Solar Panels | 140,000 with tracking technology |
| Expected Completion | 2028 |
| Employment | 100+ jobs during construction |
| Beneficiaries | Around 65,000 users |
Uruguay’s Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining, Fernanda Cardona, stressed that without renewable energy, the country would rely heavily on oil imports, exposing it to volatile international crude prices and significant economic risk.
“Every renewable energy source we expand represents sovereignty for our people and greater independence for Uruguay from external shocks,” Cardona said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to the energy transition.
She also confirmed that two additional solar parks will be announced before the end of the year, joining the Melo and Baygorria projects as part of Uruguay’s broader strategy to deepen investment in renewables, grid resilience and energy security.
President Yamandú Orsi also reaffirmed support for expanding renewable energy to minimise dependence on fossil fuels, whose prices remain highly volatile, and welcomed the project’s development in Cerro Largo.
The new plant further consolidates Uruguay’s reputation as one of Latin America’s renewable energy leaders. The addition of utility-scale solar PV complements the country’s already diversified power matrix—dominated by wind power, hydropower and growing solar generation—while supporting long-term decarbonisation and energy independence goals.
