Rodrigo Ubilla

A pioneer in solar microgrids providing renewable energy to rural Uruguay and beyond, advancing sustainable development and energy access.

Rodrigo Ubilla is a Uruguayan engineer and founder of UW Energy, a company pioneering solar microgrid solutions for remote regions. Growing up in a rural area without reliable electricity, Ubilla designed his first solar system at age 16, later developing scalable models that now power over 10,000 households across Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina. His systems combine photovoltaic panels with battery storage and smart grid technology, reducing reliance on fossil fuels while cutting costs by 40% compared to traditional grids. A 2022 MIT Tech Review article highlighted his work as a blueprint for developing nations. Ubilla also co-founded Solar Uruguay, a nonprofit training local technicians to maintain systems, creating 300+ jobs in marginalized communities. His collaboration with the UNDP led to a 2024 initiative expanding access to 50 Indigenous communities in the Amazon basin. A featured speaker at the COP26 Climate Summit, Ubilla’s TEDx talk "Lighting Rural Futures with Solar Microgrids" underscores his vision of energy justice. His LinkedIn profile (link) tracks ongoing projects in Bolivia and Peru.