Clerk: Powering Uruguay's Renewable Energy Transition with Local Expertise

Uruguay has truly embraced the winds of change, quite literally. Harnessing the transformative power of wind energy, the country has witnessed a massive rise from zero wind energy generation during the early 2000s to becoming one of the world leaders in wind energy production. Having made significant advancements in other renewable energy sources as well, an impressive 95 percent of its energy mix is now sourced from renewables.

The remarkable shift has piqued the interest of many foreign investors and private-sector companies alike. Increasingly drawn to Uruguay’s dynamic energy market, these stakeholders are eager to tap into local expertise to effectively navigate the intricate regulatory landscape and ensure project success.

Amid this transition, Clerk, a boutique consultancy firm, is a key player providing support throughout the energy project lifecycle. Its services span from facilitating utility contracts and establishing grid connections to crafting and negotiating power purchase agreements (PPAs) with third parties. Beyond these foundational services, it offers in-depth assistance in commercial negotiations and contractual matters, ensuring every aspect of a project is accurately managed.

Directors Alejandro Perroni and Mario Vignolo are the driving forces behind Clerk, whose leadership and vision have been pivotal in steering the company’s direction. Vignolo’s academic insights and Perroni’s practical experience as a former utility company executive help the firm foresee the different opportunities in Uruguay’s evolving electricity market. In 2014, they joined forces with two other partners, Carlos Zilli and Philippe Pinet, to target the newly competitive renewable electricity market with a customercentric approach. Not just that, a policy that ensures one of its partners will always be directly engaged with clients instills a sense of confidence among them.

The essence of Clerk’s mission resonates with its name, paying homage to James Clerk Maxwell, the Scottish physicist whose groundbreaking work transformed our understanding of electromagnetic theory. “Honoring Maxwell, we strive to bring innovative ideas to market that are at the forefront of energy transition. This pioneering spirit is what propels us forward,” explains Perroni.

Clerk demonstrates this commitment to progress by staying abreast of industry trends and embracing cutting-edge technologies. For instance, applying optimization algorithms to conventional engineering practices, it provides clients with unique services often unavailable locally. Collaboration with Uruguay’s Research and Innovation Agency (ANII) is another prime example of merging research with practical applications to enhance engineering services and offer specialized support that coordinates clients’ engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) activities as well.

“With the rise of advanced battery storage and hydrogen energy, we also find ourselves in a dynamic environment that challenges us to further innovation and growth,” reflects Vignolo on the evolving energy landscape. “Our commitment is to align Clerk’s offerings with the industry’s rapid development, contributing meaningfully to its future direction.”

Rightly so, Clerk is now working with several key players in the burgeoning hydrogen power sector. In recent projects Clerk is collaborating with new players to integrate hydrogen power into their operations. Clerk conducted comprehensive energy studies, offered contractual guidance and provided engineering services. These projects will contribute to energy generation of 300 megawatts in the first stage, marking a significant achievement in the sector.

Clerk has also contributed to the development of the two pulp mills industries installed in Uruguay, both at the studies stage as well as at the engineering stage and supervising the engineering works for the EPC in the last and biggest pulp mill installed.

Beyond this, the company has also forged partnerships with prominent international consulting firms to collaborate on significant projects in Uruguay. Currently, it is engaged in the preliminary studies requested by Uruguay for the renovation of the bi-national Salto Grande Dam, considering diagnosis, alternatives and the role of the power plant in the electricity sector and anticipates collaborative efforts with these international consultancies on numerous other large-scale projects.

These achievements stem from Clerk’s client-focused ethos and dedication to technological innovation. With its profound grasp of local intricacies, Clerk is ideally positioned to pave the path for more investors to master Uruguay’s dynamic energy sector and facilitate its continuous transition toward sustainable energy