Uruguay´s Solar Plan Grants Solar Water Heaters

On 22 March 2012, the Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining, Roberto Kreimerman launched a Solar Plan, which is hoped to increase the use of solar thermal collectors in private homes. With the new approach, the government hopes to save electricity, which has, so far, been the most widespread source for heating water in the house. The country’s electricity distribution network is managed by state-run utility company UTE. Of a total of 1.2 million households, 130,000 homes are thought to be serviced in this first phase. UTE reduces the energy bill of any end consumer which purchases a solar water heater by a monthly Uruguayan Peso (UYU) 700 over the first 24 months. This corresponds to an investment subsidy of around EUR 600 for any solar water which costs around UYU 37,000 (EUR 1,300), including installation, 5-year insurance, taxes, etc.
 

 

Country / region

Republic of Uruguay

Name of programme

Solar Plan

Type of incentive

Subsidy combined with low-interest loan

Eligible technologies

Solar water heaters

Applicable sectors

Residential

Amount

 

Monthly compensation of Uruguay Pesos (UYU)
700 over the first 24 month, subtracted from the
energy bill

Maximum incentive

Maximum subsidy amount is UYU 16,900 (24 times UYU 700)

Terms of loan

Loans are granted from UYU 40,000 to UYU
270,000, independent of the subsidy. The bank
charges the lowest interest-rate for a “non-warranty requiring loan”.

Requirements for system

All eligible solar water heater systems must be
registered at the Regulatory Unit of Energy and
Water
Services (URSEA) and, afterwards, at the
National Energy Administration (DNE).

Find the list of registered solar thermal system
providers at: http://www.ursea.gub.uy/Inicio/Programas/Energia
_Solar_Termica/Productos_Autorizados/ 

Requirements for installation

Installation must be under the supervision of a
Responsible Registered Technician (RTI) registered at the National Energy Administration (DNE). The technician is to register the installation at the DNE.

Finance provider

State utility company UTE pays the subsidy (refinanced by the state) and public bank BHU (Banco Hipotecario del Uruguay) grants the loan

Total funds

No limit declared

Funding source

Public money

Effective date

March 2012

Expiration date

December 2014

Websites

 

http://www.energiasolar.gub.uy
http://www.ute.com.uy/pags/Institucional/
PlanSolar.HTML

Last review of this tabloid

April 2014

Contact

National Energy Administration (DNE)

Mr Martín Scarone

Email: energiasrenovables@dne.miem.gub.uy

http://www.energiasolar.gub.uy

 

 

Baerbel Epp

Bärbel Epp is Founder and Director of the German communication and market research agency solrico and editor-in-chief of solarthermalworld.org