Mexico approves five hydropower projects

10/15/2013

By Editors of Electric Light & Power/ POWERGRID International
elp.com

 

Mexico's Comision Reguladora de Energia (CRE) has approved five private hydropower projects that will add 365 MW of installed capacity.
The projects include expansions of existing facilities and the construction of new plants, with much of the new output already having been sold to a number of consumers, according to HydroWorld.

Included amongst those receiving CRE permits are:

·      Hidroelectrica Naranjal, which will add two units to its Naranjal hydroelectric plant on Rio Blanco in Veracruz. Unit 2 will have an installed capacity of 165 MW, with 47 MW offtake from Kimberly Clark and an additional 15 MW with Crisoba Industrial. Meanwhile, Unit 3 will have also have a capacity of 165 MW, with 36 MW offtake by Kimberly Clark and 33 MW from Crisoba Industrial. Several other companies are negotiating for the remaining output.

·      Special purpose companies Proyecto H1 and Proyecto H2 have secured CRE permits for 2.5 MW and 7 MW small hydropower projects on the Jalacingo River in Veracruz. Offtake from the plants will be split between Metaloides, Exosistemas de Morelos and Aquasol Morelia, with Grupo Ferro Minero negotiating for the remainder.

·      Generadora Hidroelectrica de Chiapas, which has received a permit for a 25.5 MW plant on the Coatan River in Cacahoatan, Chiapas. Sixsigma Networks Mexico has agreed to 13.5 MW offtake, with Heliservicio claiming another 100 kW. Several municipalities are negotiating for the remainder.
All of the projects are expected to be in operation by the end of 2016.