He helped Uruguay decarbonize. Can he help other countries do the same?

Ramon Mendez-Galain, a former particle physicist turned energy secretary, played a pivotal role in Uruguay's transition to a nearly decarbonized power system, achieving 98-99% clean electricity. Faced with an energy crisis in the early 2000s, Uruguay was contemplating nuclear energy due to droughts affecting hydropower and soaring oil prices. Mendez-Galain advocated for renewable energy, leading to a significant transformation that retained public ownership of the power utility while attracting private investment. His efforts culminated in Uruguay becoming a model for clean energy in the Global South, with ambitions to help at least 50 countries achieve similar results by 2035.

Mendez-Galain's nonprofit, Association Ivy, aims to share Uruguay's success story and provide guidance to other nations on redesigning their electricity systems. He emphasizes that the transition to renewable energy is not solely about climate change but also about economic independence and stability. By optimizing energy systems and leveraging local resources, countries can reduce reliance on imported fuels and create jobs. Mendez-Galain believes that with proper planning and commitment, nations can achieve high percentages of renewable energy, even without abundant hydropower, thus fostering greater energy sovereignty and resilience against external pressures.

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Ramón Méndez Galain helped Uruguay decarbonize its grid (today it’s 98% fossil-free) while keeping the utility public and letting private capital foot the bill. Now he’s trying to export the same playbook across the global South. We talk through how Uruguay pulled it off — the hydro “battery” for wind & solar “baseload,” the cross-party political deal, the market redesign — and what actually transfers to countries without the same advantages. We also discuss why, seven years on, no other country has followed Uruguay’s path. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 03:09 – From particle physics to a nuclear proposal 05:46 – Taking the job as energy secretary 07:00 – The 2008 crisis: drought, expensive oil, blackouts 09:26 – Getting every party to sign the same plan 12:51 – Why climate was not the lead argument 15:42 – Attracting private capital without privatizing 20:22 – What a public utility made possible 23:06 – Planning a grid where wind and solar are the base load 29:26 – Thermal plants as insurance, and the last 2 percent 32:36 – EVs, smart meters, and building an electrostate 37:33 – Why bills fell less than generation costs 39:46 – What transfers to other countries 44:15 – Optimum curtailment, Colombia, and Haiti 50:51 – The political work, and the argument against the dominant narrative 56:36 – The Global South and the NDC as development catalyst