The Uruguayan government has identified approximately 670 hectares in the department of Florida for the development of a 350 MW solar park. Spanish company Solaria Energía y Medio Ambiente will develop the project as part of a data center complex with up to 500 MW of capacity.

The land is owned by state-owned utility Administración Nacional de Usinas y Trasmisiones Eléctricas (UTE) and has already been rezoned for the project. The total planned investment amounts to $5.7 billion, including $200 million for solar power generation.

On Nov. 9, Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi met with the governors of Canelones, Francisco Legnani; San José, Ana María Bentaberri; and Florida, Carlos Enciso, to establish a timetable for coordinating the project’s implementation. Industry, Energy and Mining Minister Fernanda Cardona and Presidential Secretary Alejandro Sánchez also attended the meeting.

Enciso confirmed that UTE owns the land required for the solar facility and that its land-use designation has been changed to accommodate the project. The Cardal area, in Florida, has electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure that the government considers important for the development.

Cardona said proximity to grid connection points was a key factor in selecting the sites, with the aim of reducing connection times and costs.

The data centers will be located in the departments of Canelones and San José, with approximately 100 hectares and 150 hectares allocated to each, respectively.

The location of the first development phase has yet to be determined. The decision will depend on land acquisition, environmental approvals and the completion of administrative procedures with the relevant departmental authorities and legislative bodies.

Cardona said technical meetings will be held with each departmental government to assess potential sites, infrastructure requirements and administrative procedures.

The minister also rejected reports that the project would occupy 2,700 hectares, saying the land under consideration would not displace existing productive activities. The final land requirements will be determined through technical and environmental studies.

As pv magazine reported in October, the agreement between Solaria and the Uruguayan government covers two development phases.

The first phase will include 200 MW of data center capacity and the full 350 MW of planned solar capacity. The second phase will add a further 300 MW of data center capacity.

Of the total $5.7 billion investment, $5.5 billion will go toward the data center complex, which will operate under a free-trade zone regime.

The agreement also includes a power purchase agreement (PPA) with UTE for electricity generated by the solar facilities, with a term of up to 40 years.

Solaria will be responsible for developing and operating the free-trade zone, managing the infrastructure and connecting the complex to Uruguay’s 500 kV transmission grid.

According to the latest figures from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Uruguay had 339 MW of installed and grid-connected solar capacity at the end of 2025, up from 336 MW a year earlier.

The Uruguayan government plans to add approximately 500 MW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, with a focus on solar PV. The country already generates around 97% of its electricity from renewable sources, primarily hydropower and wind.