Data Center Power & Policy in Uruguay

Grid access (1)

• Grid accessIn force20 Jan 2026

  Decree 12/026: 1,500 kW Large Consumer threshold and self-generation by large consumers

  Amends Decree 276/002 and the Wholesale Market Regulation (Decree 360/002). Large Consumers are free customers with at least 1,500 kW contracted network demand, connected to transmission or, if on distribution, opting to buy in the wholesale market. Large consumers may install their own generation below the self-producer limit; operating it requires a use/connection agreement covering safety and quality.

  1,500 kW Minimum contracted demand to qualify as a Large Consumer in the wholesale market

  Poder Ejecutivo / MIEM · Effective 9 Feb 2026 · IMPO – Decreto 12/026 (reglamento)

Power tariff (1)

• Power tariffIn force31 Dec 2025

  UTE 2026 tariff schedule incl. Large Consumer (GC) tariffs (Decree 339/025)

  Approves UTE's 2026 tariff schedule with an average 4.0% increase, effective 1 January 2026. Large Consumer tariffs (GC1-GC3, GC5) are optional for services with contracted valley demand of 200 kW or more and have time-of-use energy charges (valley 00-07h, shoulder, peak 18-22h) plus demand charges. GC3 (31.5-63 kV): energy 2.400 / 3.944 / 5.261 UYU/kWh valley/shoulder/peak.

  200 kW Minimum contracted valley-band demand to opt into GC tariffs

  Poder Ejecutivo / MIEM; UTE · Effective 1 Jan 2026 · IMPO – Decreto 339/025

Incentive (3)

• IncentiveIn force23 Dec 2025

  Decree 329/025: updated general investment promotion regime (COMAP)

  New regulatory decree for Ley 16.906, in force from 1 February 2026 (projects under the previous Decree 268/020 accepted until 30 April 2026). IRAE exemption is a percentage of eligible investment set by an indicator matrix, capped at 100% of the investment and 90% of IRAE payable each year; large projects above UI 180 million can obtain 100% of eligible investment; users of industrial and science-technology parks get extra benefit.

  180,000,000 UI Eligible investment above UI 180 million qualifies as large investment for up to 100% exemption of eligible investment

  Poder Ejecutivo / Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas · Effective 1 Feb 2026 · IMPO – Decreto 329/025

• IncentiveIn force7 Jan 1998

  Investment Promotion and Protection Law (Ley 16.906)

  Declares the promotion and protection of national and foreign investment of national interest. Companies whose investment projects are declared 'promoted' by the Executive (via the COMAP commission) can access the law's tax benefits, mainly corporate income tax (IRAE) relief tied to the investment. Applies to data center and digital infrastructure projects outside free zones.

  Poder Ejecutivo / COMAP (Comisión de Aplicación, MEF) · Effective 20 Jan 1998 · IMPO – Ley 16.906

• IncentiveIn force17 Dec 1987

  Free Zones Law (Ley 15.921), as amended by Ley 19.566

  Uruguay's free zones regime declares free zones of national interest to promote investment. Users operating inside an authorized free zone are exempt from all national taxes, existing or future, on activities covered by their authorization (social security contributions excluded). Google's Canelones data center sits in the Parque de las Ciencias free zone and the 2026 Solaria data center park is also planned under this regime. Ley 19.566 (8 Dec 2017) updated the law.

  Poder Ejecutivo / Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas (Área Zonas Francas) · Effective 26 Jan 1988 · IMPO – Ley 15.921 (texto actualizado)

Renewable energy (1)

• Renewable energyIn force14 Jun 2022

  Green Hydrogen Roadmap (Hoja de Ruta del Hidrógeno Verde)

  Roadmap implementation plan published by MIEM on 14 June 2022, developed with the private sector, academia and civil society. Together with the electric mobility and energy efficiency plans it is described as a pillar of the government's energy policy, building on Uruguay's renewable power system.

  Ministerio de Industria, Energía y Minería (MIEM) · Presidencia – Gobierno presentó hoja de ruta para desarrollo de hidrógeno verde

Efficiency rule (1)

• Efficiency ruleIn force21 Sep 2009

  Energy Efficiency Law (Ley 18.597)

  Declares efficient energy use of national interest for competitiveness, sustainable development and lower greenhouse gas emissions. MIEM prepares a 15-year National Energy Efficiency Plan, reviewed at least every 5 years, and the law funds efficiency through the FUDAEE trust. No specific data center efficiency or reporting obligation was found in the text.

  Poder Legislativo; MIEM · Effective 16 Oct 2009 · IMPO – Ley 18.597

Regulation (3)

• RegulationIn force11 Aug 2008

  Personal Data Protection Law (Ley 18.331): international transfer rule

  Personal data protection law, overseen by the URCDP. Transfers of personal data to countries or international bodies without adequate protection under international or regional standards are prohibited (with exceptions). It does not impose data localization, but cross-border processing and hosting must meet adequacy rules.

  Poder Legislativo; URCDP (AGESIC) · Effective 18 Aug 2008 · IMPO – Ley 18.331

• RegulationIn force21 Sep 2005

  Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation (Decree 349/005): Prior Environmental Authorization

  Lists projects needing Prior Environmental Authorization (AAP) from the Ministry of Environment. Data centers are not listed by name, but the list covers building or expanding free zones and industrial parks, power plants above 10 MW and transmission lines of 150 kV or more. Google's Canelones data center went through this process (Ministry of Environment Resolution 644-2024).

  Poder Ejecutivo / Ministerio de Ambiente · Effective 3 Oct 2005 · IMPO – Decreto 349/005 (reglamento)

• RegulationIn force17 Jun 1997

  Electricity Regulatory Framework Law (Ley 16.832): wholesale market and direct contracts

  Creates the wholesale electricity market run by ADME and the regulator URSEA. Generators may sign supply contracts directly with distributors and large consumers, freely negotiated between the parties, and the national dispatch must allow these contracts to be executed. This is the legal basis for a large data center to buy power from generators instead of UTE's regulated tariff.

  Poder Legislativo; ADME; URSEA · Effective 27 Jun 1997 · IMPO – Ley 16.832

Plan or strategy (1)

• Plan or strategyIn force21 Nov 2024

  National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2024-2030

  Approved on 21 November 2024 by the Public Sector Strategic Committee for AI and Data, led by AGESIC, under article 74 of Ley 20.212. Aims at ethical, responsible and pro-innovation AI use; its capabilities pillar covers infrastructure, data, talent and skills. It does not set data center specific targets.

  AGESIC / Comité Estratégico del Sector Público para la IA y Datos · Ends 31 Dec 2030 · AGESIC – Estrategia Nacional de Inteligencia Artificial 2024-2030

• OtherAnnounced14 Oct 2026

  Government agreement with Solaria for a 500 MW data center park under the free zone regime

  On 14 October 2026 President Orsi signed an agreement with Solaria Energía y Medio Ambiente for a 500 MW data center technology park in Canelones, San José and Florida under the free zone regime: USD 5.5 billion for data centers plus USD 200 million for 350 MW of solar. Phase 1: 200 MW of data centers and all the solar (around 2029); phase 2 adds 300 MW.

  500 MW Planned data center capacity (200 MW phase 1, 300 MW phase 2)

  Presidencia de la República · Presidencia – Presidente Orsi anunció la mayor inversión en la historia del país