UPM — Uruguay
Biomass power plant in Rio Negro, Uruguay. Approximate location -33.1148, -58.2567.
BiomassRio NegroUruguay
UPM is a 161 MW biomass power station in Rio Negro, Uruguay. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 222k homes (estimated). It ranks #6 of 73 Uruguay power plants by installed capacity. In context, biomass supplies about 24.9% of Uruguay's electricity; the national grid averages 80 gCO₂/kWh (97.8% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id URY0000836.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: Wikidata P2109; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 161 MW, UPM is well above the median biomass plant in Uruguay (12 MW). Biomass plants burn organic material such as wood, residues or waste-derived fuel to raise steam; they are dispatchable and counted as low-carbon where the feedstock is sustainably sourced.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Uruguay biomass capacity
- 39.0% of 413 MW across 10 plants in this dataset
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest biomass plants in Uruguay
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Local climate & thermal context
This biomass plant burns organic material (wood, residues) to raise steam for a turbine. It sits in a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 33.1°S — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 65% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 25/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #2 largest biomass power plant of 10 in Uruguay by capacity.
Uruguay has 10 biomass power plants in this dataset, together about 413 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- NATELU · Solar · 11.1 MW · Soriano
- CT CONCEPCION DEL URUGUAY · Gas · 41.8 MW · Entre Rios
- CONSTITUCIÓN · Hydro · 333 MW · Rio Negro
- YARNEL · Solar · 9.5 MW · Rio Negro
- RADITON · Solar · 8 MW · Paysandu
- LIDERDAT · Biomass · 5 MW · Paysandu
Location
Coordinates -33.1148, -58.2567 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is UPM?
UPM is a 161 MW biomass power plant in Rio Negro, Uruguay.