Uruguay watch: July breaks records, US$40mn grid maintenance, solar study call

Uruguay set power records in July as the unseasonably cold winter continued to generate higher than usual electricity demand, according to the latest report by the country's power market administrator ADME. On July 22, maximum daily demand hit a record high at 37.1GWh compared to the previous all time high of 34.0GWh, while peak demand reached 1,918MW versus 2012's record of 1,742MW and June 2013's record-breaking 1,808MW. On July 24, 5.41GWh of power produced at the backup La Tablada thermo plant (CTR) were exported to Argentina. Uruguay did not import any energy in July. Power demand totaled 971GWh in July, up 7.87% from June and up 0.16% year-on-year. The generation park was made up primarily by hydro generation (78.0%) followed by thermo (16.5%), biomass (4.2%) and wind (1.3%). *** State utility UTE announced a US$40mn rural electrification and grid maintenance plan. UTE plans to invest US$8mn a year over the next five years to replace and improve grid reliability throughout Uruguay, which has the highest rate of electricity penetration of Latin America, according to a utility press release. This year efforts will focus on replacing approximately 3,000 power line poles which were affected by heavy storms at the end 2012 and beginning of 2013. *** And the industry, energy and mining ministry ( MIEM) launched a call for bids for a study regarding the nation's solar thermo pilot program. The selected organization will conduct a three-month study to evaluate the results of the "Plan Solar" initiative and recommend ways to implement a widespread program. Offers for the solar water heating study can be presented until August 30, 2013. See this link for more information in Spanish.