Uruguay secures land for €5.1bn solar and data center project led by Spain’s Solaria
Spanish firm Solaria will build a 350 MW solar plant in Florida, Uruguay, as part of a €5.1bn investment to boost renewable energy and data center capacity.
Uruguay has secured 670 hectares of land in Florida to develop a 350 MW solar plant led by Solaria Energía y Medio Ambiente, marking a significant step in the country’s drive to attract foreign investment into its renewable energy sector.
The €5.1 billion project, which includes €178 million earmarked for solar power generation, also features plans for up to 500 MW of data center capacity across Canelones and San José. The land, owned by state utility Administración Nacional de Usinas y Trasmisiones Eléctricas (UTE), has been rezoned to accommodate the project, following coordination between President Yamandú Orsi and regional governors on November 9, 2026.
The initiative underscores Uruguay’s ambition to expand its renewable energy infrastructure and position itself as a regional hub for digital services. At the end of 2025, the country’s installed solar capacity stood at 339 MW; the new project will more than double that figure, signaling a substantial leap in clean energy generation.
A 40-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with UTE will underpin the venture, providing long-term revenue certainty for Solaria and ensuring stable power supply for the planned data centers. The investment is expected to generate employment and stimulate economic growth in the involved regions, offering opportunities for local suppliers and service providers.
However, the project faces challenges, including possible delays in environmental permitting and concerns over land use changes that might impact existing agricultural activities. Stakeholders are also assessing the social and economic effects on local communities.
For European investors and technology firms, Uruguay’s evolving energy landscape represents a gateway to the Latin American digital economy, with the new data center infrastructure potentially lowering energy costs and increasing competitiveness. The project’s scale and international backing highlight Uruguay’s growing role in cross-Atlantic renewable energy and data services, according to pv magazine Global.
