Biography
Ramón Méndez Galain is a visionary leader who has proven that the global energy transition is not only possible but profitable, equitable, and transformative. As the architect of Uruguay’s remarkable shift to 98% renewable electricity, he has demonstrated that small countries can lead the world in climate action while strengthening their economies and improving lives.
From a young age, Ramón was fascinated by science and the mysteries of the universe. This curiosity led him to pursue a career in physics, investigating fundamental questions about the laws of nature in the seconds after the Big Bang. But over time, his focus shifted from theoretical questions to practical solutions that could transform communities. His transition to public service reflected a growing conviction that knowledge must serve people, and that leadership should open pathways for collective advancement.
“The best advice I ever received came from a mentor who told me: ‘The key to true leadership is to inspire others to see themselves in the solution,’” Ramón reflects. “That lesson has stayed with me throughout my life. Real change doesn’t come from imposing answers but from co-creating them with those most affected.”
This philosophy guided his most transformative work. In 2008, while teaching physics at the Universidad de la República in Montevideo, Ramón wrote a proposal for how Uruguay could address its energy crisis with renewables. At the time, Uruguay’s energy system was 50% powered by imported fossil fuels, leading to high energy prices and blackouts. His research caught the attention of Uruguay’s President, who asked him to take on leadership as National Secretary of Energy to implement this bold vision.
During his tenure through 2015, Ramón led the transformation of Uruguay’s power sector to achieve 98% renewables—including solar, wind, hydropower, and biomass from agricultural waste. The results were extraordinary: $6 billion in investment, a 40% reduction in electricity generation costs, and the creation of 50,000 jobs. Perhaps most importantly, the transition reduced energy poverty by moving from volatile spot markets to stable long-term contracts, insulating Uruguay from global energy price fluctuations.
After Uruguay’s success, he founded Ivy, an organization supporting countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean in their climate and energy transitions. As Executive Director, he has advised governments in Colombia, Chile, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Panama, and Honduras. He also serves as President of REN21, the global renewable energy policy network.
Ramón brings a rare combination of deep technical expertise and high-level political experience. This dual profile—technical rigor and strategic governance—enables him to speak both to scientists and to ministers, to inspire civil society and convince private investors.
Breakthrough program
Ramón Méndez Galain was selected for the Climate Breakthrough Award program in 2025.
Seven years after Uruguay’s transition to near-100% renewable energy, there have been no additional examples of complete electricity grid decarbonization. Through his experience in Uruguay and working with other countries, Ramón has identified the systemic barriers preventing nations from realizing the benefits of renewables-based power systems: persistent negative narratives about wind and solar reliability, electricity systems structurally designed for fossil fuels, and institutional obstacles that block change.
“Despite the economic and technological viability of renewable energy, fossil fuels still dominate electricity generation, and emissions continue to rise. These aren’t technological problems; they are structural and political,” Ramón observes.
His approach at Ivy provides a complete guide for changing how countries handle electricity systems politically and practically. Instead of piecemeal fixes or solutions forced from outside, Ramón works directly with Global South partners to redesign systems from the ground up. Each solution is customized for the specific country, backed by solid data, and controlled by local people.
While Ivy’s support is in high demand, the organization has only been working with countries on a project-by-project basis with project-based funding. Through the Climate Breakthrough Award program, Ramón will lead Ivy to work with multiple countries at once.
Ramón plans to reach at least 50 countries by 2035, potentially avoiding 2 gigatons of emissions compared to current levels. His work also has the potential to build a global network of politically-engaged leaders who champion just energy transitions and spread transformational knowledge widely. By keeping control in local hands rather than creating dependence on outside forces, the approach ensures that leadership skills take root in each community.