Introduction to Nearshoring and Energy Challenges
Nearshoring, a strategic relocation of business processes to companies in nearby countries, presents both economic growth opportunities and challenges related to infrastructure and energy security for international companies. In this context, the adoption of solar energy solutions in Mexico’s industrial parks is emerging as a crucial factor for competitiveness and sustainability.
The Rise of Solar Energy in Industrial Parks
Enlight’s Director of New Businesses, Ena Gutiérrez, highlights the growing trend of integrating photovoltaic solutions in industrial parks, driven by nearshoring. She explains that the industrial sector accounts for more than 60% of Mexico’s national electricity demand, with energy costs ranging from 10% to 30% of operational expenses in intensive sectors like automotive and manufacturing. This makes clean energy a critical component of competitiveness.
Solar Generation and Energy Storage
The combination of solar photovoltaic generation and energy storage systems (BESS) enables developers to provide stable, measurable, and traceable power supply. Enlight’s projects with automotive, manufacturing, and aerospace companies reduce CO₂ emissions by 400 to 500 metric tons per site annually. Their digital platform, Apollo®, allows clients to monitor real-time generation, savings, and environmental impacts, reinforcing ESG compliance.
Structural Barriers and Financial Solutions
Currently, only 1.2% of energy consumed in industrial parks comes from clean sources. High dependence on fossil fuels complicates the goal of covering 45% of electricity generation with renewables by 2030.
Structural factors, such as limited space for solar installations in densely populated areas like Mexico City (with minimal vacancy rates of 0.3%), further challenge solar adoption.
Enlight has introduced financing schemes like onsite Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) and Storage as a Service (SaaS). These models allow clients to pay only for generated or stored energy without initial investment.
Competitiveness and Supply Chains
Transitioning to solar energy enhances the competitiveness of industrial parks compared to other Latin American markets. Offering clean energy contracts with predictable prices and verifiable environmental traceability, Mexican parks facilitate international audits and meet ESG criteria.
“Today, having parks capable of delivering measurable, certified clean energy is no longer a value-add but a critical selection criterion,” Gutiérrez states. Access to renewable energy directly influences decisions to establish new production lines and expand global supply chains.
Regulatory Advances
The Electric Sector Law increased the limit for distributed generation without permits to 0.7 MW, enabling more robust projects. The self-consumption scheme was also redefined, simplifying permit processes for central up to 20 MW.
Formal recognition of energy storage as a technical enabler within the National Electric System opened doors for integrating BESS in industrial projects. Additionally, the Energy Window, launched in June, aims to streamline administrative permit and license management.
Mexico’s Industrial Parks: Key Players in Energy Transition
With over 460 operational parks and at least 128 planned by 2030, consuming around 9,900 GWh annually, these parks are vital in Mexico’s energy transition. Enlight envisions industrial parks evolving into modern energy platforms integrating solar generation, storage, and intelligent control systems.
“As industrial electrification expands, so will the demand for environmental traceability from clients and investors. Our goal is to establish industrial parks not just as investment hubs but also as sustainable energy references in Mexico and Latin America,” concludes Gutiérrez.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is nearshoring and why is it relevant to solar energy adoption in Mexico’s industrial parks? Nearshoring is the strategic relocation of business processes to nearby countries, offering economic growth opportunities. In Mexico, nearshoring drives the integration of solar energy solutions in industrial parks to meet clean energy demands and enhance competitiveness.
- How do solar generation and energy storage systems contribute to industrial parks’ sustainability? The combination of solar photovoltaic generation and energy storage systems (BESS) enables stable, measurable, and traceable power supply. This setup allows industrial parks to reduce their carbon footprint and meet ESG compliance requirements.
- What are the structural barriers to solar energy adoption in Mexico’s industrial parks? Limited space for solar installations, particularly in densely populated areas like Mexico City, and high dependence on fossil fuels pose challenges to solar energy adoption.
- How do financial solutions like PPA and SaaS facilitate solar energy integration in industrial parks? Financing schemes like onsite Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) and Storage as a Service (SaaS) enable clients to pay only for generated or stored energy without initial investment, making solar energy more accessible.
- How does transitioning to solar energy impact the competitiveness of Mexico’s industrial parks? Offering clean energy contracts with predictable prices and verifiable environmental traceability enhances industrial parks’ competitiveness, facilitates international audits, and meets ESG criteria.
- What regulatory advances support solar energy adoption in Mexico’s industrial parks? The Electric Sector Law and recognition of energy storage as a technical enabler within the National Electric System have streamlined permit processes and opened doors for integrating BESS in industrial projects.
