Uruguay launches 30MW solar plant work tender

Uruguayan state-owned utility UTE has launched a tender for solar plant work.

The contract is to supply and install electrical equipment at a 30MW solar farm planned to be built in Punta del Tigre, San José department. The winning party will also have to commission, run and maintain the facility, according to tender documents.

The winning party will not be required to supply and install solar panels or their respective structures and inverters, or carry out the civil works components of a planned access road and control building.  

Bids are due November 12. 

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The country is due to open bids next month for a contract to provide a wind power generation forecasting service.

Uruguay has 40 operational wind farms, with capacity ranging from 0.25MW to 70MW, according to tender documents published by UTE.

The winning party will have to provide short-term, daily and weekly forecasts.

Bids are due October 12.

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Total installed grid capacity in 2020 stood at 4,924MW, according to energy ministry data. Hydro plants accounted for 1,538MW, wind plants 1,514MW, thermoelectric plants 1,190MW, biomass 425MW and solar 258MW.

Future capacity growth is likely to come from solar. Uruguay plans to add solar PV parks from 2028, according to state utility UTE, which cites favorable costs as a key attraction. 

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UTE has also launched a tender for work to bolster the grid.

The contract on offer is to design and build a pair of 150kW transformer stations and lay 150kV underground power lines and associated fiber optics communications cables. 

Bids are due on November 22.