800 MW of wind energy 'shut down

While the Federal Government has to wait until 2026 to be able to operate its mega solar park of 1,000 megawatts, there are seven wind power plants in the country, equivalent to 800 megawatts, which are already completed and ready to operate but are prevented from starting up due to lack of permits.

Leopoldo Rodríguez Olivé, president of the Mexican Wind Energy Association (AMDEE), explained that these are plants that have already been fully completed but are awaiting permits to start operations.

"They are waiting to be authorized to start commercial operation, some of them are even in tests but they need to update their permits to be able to operate," he said in a meeting with the media.

He added that there is potential to incorporate, in a short time, up to 15 thousand additional megawatts, of which 5 thousand are from projects that are already in an advanced stage of development and 10 thousand megawatts that could be enabled before 2030.

There are currently 60 wind power plants in operation with a capacity of 7,600 megawatts.

Rodriguez also said that in order to incorporate new capacity into the electricity system, it is essential to have the support of the authorities involved and regulatory certainty.

"We think that a collaboration of all is necessary, including the government, regulators, companies and civil society. Conditions are required, of course, legal, operational, that give us long-term certainty to truly bring sustainable and reliable electricity throughout the country.

"We are convinced that any energy policy must have the fight against climate change at the center of its decisions; in addition, the world is becoming more demanding at the level of investors, end users and society in general, who are demanding that the things they manufacture and the services they provide be supported by green content," he said.

Another important factor that drives the development of wind energy is the lower cost of the technology, which worldwide has dropped between 50 and 70 percent in the last 11 years.

In Mexico, in 2009, when the installation of wind farms began in the country, the average cost per megawatt was 2.6 million dollars and now it is 1.1 million.

The president of AMDEE said that in order to achieve a net zero, a reliable electric system is needed, with renewable energy sources and where it is required that the private initiative and the Government work together.

This is because it is not only necessary to invest in new generation plants, but also in transmission, distribution and reinforcement networks.

Potential disdained

The development of wind energy in Mexico could increase significantly if the regulatory conditions were in place to achieve it, which would contribute to the fulfillment of emission reduction goals.

WIND ENERGY PROPOSAL

800 MW

ready to operate

5,000 MW

in advanced stage of development

10,000 MW

in plans that could be realized before 2030

40,000

Megawatts to reach net zero by 2050 (between solar, wind, hydro and geothermal power)

Source: AMDEE / Illustration: Freepik