Uruguay promotes its leadership in clean energy at the world’s leading forum on green hydrogen

Uruguay reaffirmed its commitment to the energy transition at one of the most important global events on hydrogen, the World Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition, held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, where it participated for the second consecutive year.

The Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining, Fernanda Cardona, led a delegation made up of representatives from her ministry, the state-owned electricity and fuel companies UTE and ANCAP, and the investment, export, and country image promotion agency Uruguay XXI. The delegation aimed to strengthen the country’s integration into the international green hydrogen ecosystem.

The event brought together more than 700 exhibitors and 15,000 government, private, technological, and academic visitors. Uruguay deployed an active strategy within this framework to consolidate its international positioning. Minister Cardona participated in high-level meetings with sector leaders, accompanied by the deputy executive director of Uruguay XXI, Martín Mercado, including Sophie Hermans, second deputy prime minister and minister of Climate and Green Growth of the Netherlands; Carola Schouten, mayor of Rotterdam; and Berte Simons, chief operating officer of the port of Rotterdam, one of the most important ports in the world.

A solid and reliable country proposal

Uruguay’s electricity matrix has more than 94% renewable energy. This percentage has been sustained over the last decade due to an energy policy built on multiparty consensus since 2010. It also has biogenic CO2 from the forestry sector, which is necessary for producing synthetic fuels. A logistics chain proven throughout the first energy transition and a stable legal and tax incentive framework make Uruguay an attractive country for long-term investment.

Cardona stressed that green hydrogen is a key element in transforming Uruguay’s energy matrix and that the country has privileged logistical and geographical conditions for its development, as well as a stable democratic, legal, and political environment.

The national strategy is structured around five pillars: electric mobility, energy efficiency, storage, strengthening renewables, and promoting green hydrogen. Its goal is to achieve a triple economic, social, and environmental impact.

Uruguay XXI played a central role in coordinating the national presence and inviting private companies. It organized a country stand that served as a platform to showcase the country’s attributes for green hydrogen production and to publicize the projects announced and their progress, such as HIF Global, Enertrag, Alfanar, and the Kahirós project promoted by the company Ventus. Projects related to port infrastructure were also represented.

The stand brought together public representatives and more than 20 private companies, creating networking opportunities with strategic players in the global energy sector. The stand was visited by international authorities, business leaders, and other prominent figures who recognized Uruguay’s progress and commitment to the energy transition. One example was the visit by Jacob Henze, representative of the German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy, during which the European country’s international strategy on hydrogen was discussed, as well as the clear role that Uruguay can play in the global chain.

Participation in the World Hydrogen Summit was another step toward positioning Uruguay as a reliable partner for investing in green hydrogen projects and exporting its derivatives.