Approval for eight Mexico solar projects

pv-tech.org

By Tom Kenning - 20 April 2015

  
The 220MW of projects will be constructed in Coahuila, Baja California Norte and Chiapas States in Mexico. Image: Esparta.

Joint ventures involving Spain-based energy company Aljaval have received electric energy generation approval for eight solar power projects with a combined capacity of 220MW.

In March and April, a joint venture between Aljaval and Mexico-based energy company Tecnoambiente received a generation permit from the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) as ‘small producer’ for six new solar power projects totalling 160MW in Coahuila and Baja California Norte States.

Another Aljaval joint venture with Spanish company TW Solar and Mexico-based Redes Diseno y Construccion S.A DE C.V. also received approval from the CRE in March and April as a ‘small producer’ for two new solar projects totalling 60MW in Chiapas State.

The projects have started with the Environmental and Natural Resources Entity (SEMARNAT) process to obtain impact assessment permits and grid interconnection agreements.

Construction for all the projects is expected to start at the end of the year and commisioning to begin in mid-2016.

Javier Mas Abad, Aljaval deputy director, told PV Tech that the PV projects being developed are part of a big pipeline in Mexico.

He said: “It is important to take advantage of the natural resources of the country that will provide energy at a competitive price and sustainably. We trust that Mexico it is going to be a big market for all these types of projects in the next years.”

Abad said the company is waiting to clear the last market regulations including clean energy certificates and operation of the spot market.

He said: “It would also be important to analyse the financing for all these projects in Mexico, because with the current price of energy, influenced by the low oil price and the good water year, it is complicated to obtain competitive financing.

“It is important to understand that the price of the energy will continue increasing over the next years and the PV projects are going to be competitive, as is happening in other countries without any subsidy.”
Abad added that Mexico is a big country with a high power demand that it is increasing year by year. This means solar will be a necessary part of the energy mix to fulfil the country’s requirements.