Background on Key Figures and Relevance
Valeria Amezcua, a master’s degree holder in Energy and Sustainability and co-founder of the consultancy Regenerative, along with Lilia Alonzo, a master and lawyer specializing in the electricity sector and co-founder of Áurea Partners, have explained to El Economista the significance of Mexico’s upcoming electricity generation permits convocation.
These experts assert that the process of selecting wind and solar energy projects within this government-issued priority permits convocation will set the course for the electricity sector in the coming years. It will determine if subsequent competitions occur, the speed at which the legal framework is designed and implemented, and whether it establishes certainty for future investments.
Details of the Convocation and its Impact
The Secretaría de Energía (Sener) aims to add approximately 6,000 megawatts with an investment of around $7,140 million. Out of these, 3,790 megawatts will be for photovoltaic energy and 2,100 megawatts for wind projects.
Analysts believe that the initial intention was to expedite the process, but subsequent modifications have extended the original timelines. In the near future, industry participants will likely need to focus on preparation or infrastructure required to meet tight deadlines.
“While the intention to accelerate the process is positive, there remains a need for clear, detailed, and transparent procedures. Establishing these protocols is crucial to ensure that future convocations can operate effectively without major corrections,” the experts emphasized.
Benefits for Private Investors
The annual convocations from the government will allow private entities to access a streamlined and more certain permitting process, as they develop strategic projects for the country. Interested parties can now submit their projects to be considered in binding planning, enabling the Secretaría de Energía to assess their relevance based on current supply and demand conditions, according to Alonzo.
However, Amezcua cautioned that there are still at least 20 regulations needed to clarify the rules in critical areas such as distributed generation, energy storage, controllable demand, and electric mobility.
Private investors aim to contribute to Mexico’s electricity sector and expand generation capacity to meet industrial, commercial, and general societal demands. Moreover, the rise in transition and energy efficiency plans at municipal and state government levels suggests that the new rules facilitate their implementation.
“2026 is projected to be a year of significant movement, with numerous new regulations in the electricity sector accompanied by public and private investments. This is the ideal time for companies, governments, and organizations to anticipate and review their projects and investment plans to address gaps such as the energy transition and more efficient, cost-effective electricity acquisition conditions,” Amezcua concluded.
Wind Energy Confidence and Upcoming Permits
The Mexican Wind Energy Association (Amdee) recently informed El Economista that they are confident about receiving permits for up to 2,000 megawatts of new projects by December 18th. This would increase the installed capacity of wind energy in the country by 26%, attracting $2,000 million in investments due to their participation in Sener’s priority expansion convocation.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the purpose of Mexico’s electricity generation permits convocation? The primary goal is to provide valuable information on investment opportunities in electricity generation within the newly implemented legal framework, allowing both private entities and authorities to assess potential projects.
- Which types of energy projects are prioritized in this convocation? The government is focusing on wind and solar energy projects, aiming to add approximately 6,000 megawatts with an investment of around $7,140 million.
- How will this convocation impact the electricity sector? It will set the course for the sector in the coming years, determining if subsequent competitions occur, the speed at which the legal framework is designed and implemented, and whether it establishes certainty for future investments.
- What challenges do private investors face in the Mexican electricity sector? Despite the positive outlook, there are still regulatory gaps to address, such as distributed generation, energy storage, controllable demand, and electric mobility rules.
- What is the significance of upcoming wind energy permits in Mexico? Amdee reports confidence in receiving permits for up to 2,000 megawatts of new wind energy projects by December 18th, which would boost the country’s installed capacity and attract substantial investments.
