:Solar power in Mexico

Image:CSP prospects for the SW USA (3% slopes).jpg prospects for southwest United States and northern Mexico]]

File:Distributed Clean Energy in Mexico.png

File:Historic progress of installed PV solar in Mexico.png

File:Forcasted Solar PV Generation and Capacity in Mexico.png

A law requiring 35% of electricity from renewable resources by 2024 and carbon emission reductions of 50% below 2000 levels by 2050 was introduced in 2012.[http://cleantechnica.com/2012/04/15/mexico-emulates-neighbor-california-with-35-clean-climate-law/ Mexico Emulates Neighbor California With 35% Clean Climate Law][http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/green-power-conferences-3234/news/article/2013/02/mexican-renewable-energy-market-set-to-soar-in-2013 Mexican Renewable Energy Market Set to Soar in 2013]

Combined with declining solar installation costs, it was estimated that the 2012 climate law would lead to 6 GW of solar capacity in Mexico by 2020.{{cite web|url=http://www.pv-tech.org/news/mexico_to_quadruple_solar_growth_in_2014|title=Mexico to quadruple solar growth in 2014: GTM|author=Lucy Woods|date=2013-12-19|publisher=PV-Tech.org|accessdate=2014-08-05}}

At the Solar Power Mexico conference, it was said that PV electricity and solar thermal would comprise up to 5% of Mexico's energy by 2030 and up to 10% by 2050.{{cite web|url=http://www.greenpowerconferences.com/EF/?sSubSystem=Prospectus&sEventCode=SP1205MX|title=Solar Power Mexico 2012: The Only Event Uniting the Rapidly Expanding Mexican Solar Industry|publisher=Solar Power Mexico}}

The first long term energy auction was held in 2015 with a second one in 2016. Solar PV was successful in both, securing 1,691 MW of the 2,085 MW auctioned in the first and 1573 MW of 3473 MW in the second auction.[http://247wallst.com/2011/09/09/is-solar-power-cheaper-than-wind-fslr-stp-jaso/ Is Solar Power Cheaper Than Wind?]

In 2013, 22% of the installed electricity generation capacity in Mexico was from renewable sources.

The majority, 18.1% coming from hydroelectricity, 2.5% from wind power and 0.1% from solar PV.{{Cite web|url=http://www.irena.org/DocumentDownloads/Publications/IRENA_REmap_Mexico_report_2015.pdf|title=REmap 2030 A Renewable Energy Roadmap|date=May 2015|publisher=SENER and IRENA}}

In December 2013, the Mexican government passed a Constitutional Reform that effectively opened the energy sector to private investment, both for electricity generation and petroleum exploration and extraction.{{Cite web|url=https://sites.hks.harvard.edu/hepg/Papers/2017/Mexican%20Energy%20Reform%20Draft%201.23.pdf|title=Mexico's Energy Reform|last=Vietor|first=Richard H.K.|date=January 23, 2017}}

The Reform's goal was to modernize the sector by optimizing the use of national resources and incentivizing renewable energy through clean energy certificates.{{Cite web|url=http://reformas.gob.mx/reforma-energetica/que-es|title=Reforma Energetica ¿Qué es?|website=Mover Mexico}}

The Reform liberalized the electricity sector and brought forth a wholesale electricity market.

Long and medium term auctions are the main mechanisms used to incentivize capacity and energy growth. [https://www.epa.gov/greenpower/renewable-energy-certificates-recs Clean energy certificates] are created by the participation of renewables and are meant to support energy generated from low carbon emitting sources. A long term energy action secures a 15-year contract for energy and capacity supplied whereas medium term generates a 3-year contract.{{Cite web|url=http://www.iea.org/policiesandmeasures/pams/mexico/name-160912-en.php?return=PG5hdiBpZD0iYnJlYWRjcnVtYiI-PGEgaHJlZj0iLyI-SG9tZTwvYT4gJnJhcXVvOyA8YSBocmVmPSIvcG9saWNpZXNhbmRtZWFzdXJlcy8iPlBvbGljaWVzIGFuZCBNZWFzdXJlczwvYT4gJnJhcXVvOyA8YSBocmVmPSIvcG9saWNpZXNhbmRtZWFzdXJlcy9yZW5ld2FibGVlbmVyZ3kvIj5SZW5ld2FibGUgRW5lcmd5PC9hPjwvbmF2Pg,,&s=dHlwZT1yZSZzdGF0dXM9T2s|title=Mexico capacity and power auctions supported by clean energy certificates|website=International Energy Agency}}

Mexico was the second largest solar generator in Latin America in 2016, with 180 MW installed capacity and more than 500 MW under construction.{{Cite web|url=https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/three-fast-facts-about-latin-americas-solar-market|title=3 Fast Facts About Latin America’s Solar Market|last=Mike|first=Munsell|date=June 14, 2016}}

At a clean source auction that year, solar won 1,860 MW at an average price of $50.7 per MWh (ranging between $35 and $67).

The production was expected to be 4 TWh per year.

Other sources such as gas, hydro and geothermal received no awards, and wind power won a smaller share than solar.{{cite web|url=http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Solar-Stuns-in-Mexicos-First-Clean-Energy-Auction-1860-MW-Won-at-50.7-P|title=Solar Stuns in Mexico’s First Clean Energy Auction: 1,860MW Won at $50.7 per MWh|author=Mohit Anand|date=5 April 2016|accessdate=12 April 2016}}

As of 2017, thanks to the Long-Term Energy Auctions, solar PV energy is expected to increase to 6% in 2018 and 13% for 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com.mx/energia-solar-fotovoltaica/|title=Energía solar fotovoltaica|date=August 16, 2017|work=Forbes Mexico}}{{needs update|date=August 2022}}

Historically, the main applications of solar energy technologies in Mexico have been for non-electric active solar system applications for space heating, water heating and drying crops. As in most countries, wind power development preceded solar power initially, due to the lower installation cost. Since solar power is not available during the night, and because wind power tends to be complementary to solar, a mix of both can be expected. Both require substantial storage to compensate for days with no wind and no sun. Batteries provide short-term storage,[https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071127101936.htm Smarter Energy Storage For Solar And Wind Power] and pumped hydroelectricity provides longer-term storage.[http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/intelligent-energy/chu-calls-for-hydro-storage-to-conserve-clean-energy/3174 Chu calls for hydro storage to conserve clean energy]

The Villanueva Solar plant is the largest in Mexico with 310 MW installed by mid-2018. When completed, it will be the largest in the Americas at 828 MW.{{Cite web|url=https://www.elp.com/articles/2018/03/enel-green-power-mexico-shows-off-work-at-villanueva-solar-pv-plant.html|title=Enel Green Power Mexico shows off work at Villanueva solar power plant|date=2018-03-06|website=www.elp.com|access-date=2019-09-01}}

Another large installation, Don José Solar Farm was completed in May 2018 Initially at 238 MW, a 22 MW expansion project was immediately announced.Enel switches on 238 MW solar park in Mexico, pv-magazine, Jorge Zarco, May 28, 2018Enel to expand its Mexican mega-projects by 96 MW, pv-magazine, Pilar Sánchez Molina, May 11, 2018

A 405 MWp (megawatt-peak) photovoltaic project in Puerto Libertad, Sonora was completed in December, 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.acciona.com/pressroom/news/2019/january/acciona-completes-assembly-405-mwp-photovoltaic-plant-mexico-installing-one-million-panels-two-months/|title=ACCIONA completes the assembly of a 405 MWp photovoltaic plant in Mexico, installing over one million panels in two months|website=acciona.com|language=en|access-date=2019-01-11}}

Originally planned to be 39 MW, the size was increased to allow generation of approximately 963 GWh (gigawatt-hours) of electricity per year.[http://www.sonoraenergygroup.com/press-releases/ Sonora Energy to Build 39 MW Solar Project in Mexico] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122054112/http://www.sonoraenergygroup.com/press-releases/ |date=2012-01-22 }}

A solar trough based 14 MW plant will use a combined cycle gas turbine of 478 MW[http://www.nrel.gov/csp/solarpaces/project_detail.cfm/projectID=135 Agua Prieta II] to provide electricity to the city of Agua Prieta, Sonora. The World Bank has financed this project with US$50 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.earth-policy.org/datacenter/xls/indicator12_2010_6.xls|title=Cumulative and Newly-Installed Solar Photovoltaics Capacity in Ten Leading Countries and the World, 2009|date=2010-09-21|publisher=Earth Policy Institute|accessdate=2010-09-22}} A 450 MW concentrated photovoltaics plant is planned for Baja California.[http://www.solfocus.com/en/news-events/press-releases/2012-03-29.php First 50 Megawatts of Large Solar Power Plant in Baja California] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823111143/http://www.solfocus.com/en/news-events/press-releases/2012-03-29.php |date=2012-08-23 }}

Currently, 98% of all distributed generation can be attributed to solar PV panels installed on rooftops or small businesses. This installed capacity has greatly increased from 3 kW in 2007 to 247.6 MW by the end of 2016. According to the Mexican Ministry of Energy (SENER) if this trend continues till 2018 the total installed capacity will surpass 527 MW, this is the goal set by the Mexico's Special Program for Energy Transition or PETE (Programa Especial de la Transición Energética){{Cite web|url=https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/201875/Beneficios_de_la_GLD_y_EE_en_Mexico.pdf|title=Primer Analisis sobre los beneficios de la generacion limpia distribuida y la eficiencia energetica en Mexico|last=Secretaria de Energia (SENER)|date=2017}}

Distributed energy in Mexico is classified as any system with a capacity below 500 kW.{{Cite web|url=http://www.asolmex.org/gaceta/alejo051216.pdf|title=Generacion Solar Distribuida|last=Lopez|first=Alejo}} The National Association of Solar Energy (ANES from the Spanish acronym) reported approximately 21,600 interconnection permits for distributed solar in 2015. In March, 2017 the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) approved regulation that allows net metering for distributed energy generation.{{Cite journal|date=December 15, 2016|title=México impulsa la generación distribuida solar con nuevas normas|url=https://www.pv-magazine-latam.com/2016/12/15/mxico-impulsa-la-generacin-distribuida-solar-con-nuevas-normas/|journal=PV Magazine}}

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(*) This forecast does not account for economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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• Renewable energy in Mexico
• Wind power in Mexico
• Solar power
• Feed-in tariff
• Renewable energy
• Growth of photovoltaics
• Renewable energy by country

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{{Commons category|Solar energy in Mexico|Solar power in Mexico}}

• [http://www.greenpowerconferences.com/EF/?sSubSystem=Prospectus&sEventCode=SP1305MX Solar Power Mexico 2013]
• [http://www.sonoraenergygroup.com/ Sonora Energy Group]

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