The solar project at the Central de Abasto, Mexico City's massive Central Market, was designed as the most emblematic renewable energy program in Mexico City. The 18MW solar plant is fundamental to the climate action program led by Mexico City's Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum. Contact online >>
The solar project at the Central de Abasto, Mexico City''s massive Central Market, was designed as the most emblematic renewable energy program in Mexico City. The 18MW solar plant is fundamental to the climate action program led by Mexico City''s Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum.
Last year, Mexico City''s government announced that it began the works for the construction of the Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Plant at the Mexico City Central Market in March 2022. The allocated resources for this project come from the Energy Transition Fund and Sustainable Exploitation of Energy (FOTEASE) of the country''s Ministry of Energy (SENER).
According to Fadlala Akabani, Minister of Economic Development, Mexico City''s Ministry of Economic Development (SEDECO), this project is part of the capital city''s government commitment to the clean energy transition. Moreover, the project is part of the Solar City concept, whose goal is to provide Mexico City with the possibility of growing as a power producer by implementing clean and renewable sources of energy.
Akabani reported that the cost of the project amounted to MX$600 million (US$27.25 million), including making the market''s roofs waterproof, which was necessary for the installation of the solar system. He further explained that panels were designed individually due to the differences between each rooftop and can withstand extreme climate conditions.
According to the Ministry of Economic Development (SEDECO), the project overseen by CFE was implemented in two stages. The first consists of two Distributed Generation (DG) solar systems on the roof of storage units and is set to start operating in 1H23. The second phase corresponds to the 18MW PV project that will produce 25GWh of clean energy for the market. Its installation began in May 2022 to be completed by the end of 2023.
Mexico City''s climate change action program drives sustainable mobility, improves air quality, provides value for the environment and is set to generate no waste at all. Solar City is based on four benchmarks, including enhancing electricity generation from DG projects, solar energy for SMEs, training technicians and workers as well as boosting the adoption and development of electromobility technologies.
Akabani also highlighted the importance of promoting Mexican-made products for the value chains close to the city''s green projects. "We continue working on the installation of solar panels on top of public buildings and have collaborated with many companies for the installation of PB panels. We boosted close to 100 companies in the field of electromobility. We also recently inaugurated a Metrobus line running a fully electric fleet," he added.
Akabani also discussed the opportunities that nearshoring represents for the country and underlined the government''s commitment to take advantage of this development. He recognized the need to further develop an industry for lithium batteries and energy storage, highlighting the government''s decision to boost this industry through the new state company, LitioMx.
Mexico City celebrated a groundbreaking moment in sustainable energy generation with the inauguration of the world''s largest urban solar panel installation atop the Central de Abasto (CEDA). Spearheaded by Mayor Martí Batres, this initiative underscores Mexico''s commitment to renewable energy development and environmental stewardship.
The plant, the world''s largest installed on the roof of a public market, is part of the city''s Environmental and Climate Change Program, with an investment of MX$600 million (US$35 million). It is poised to generate up to 25GWh of clean energy annually, benefiting residents and businesses in the Iztapalapa municipality.
Spanning 21ha and comprising 32,000 solar panels, the installation boasts 18MW capacity, making it a standout feature on the city''s skyline. Moreover, the initiative is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 11,400t annually, contributing to Mexico''s climate change mitigation efforts.
At the inauguration ceremony attended by Energy Minister Miguel Ángel Maciel and CFE Director Manuel Bartlett, the project was heralded as a beacon of economic development and social responsibility. Bartlett praised the installation as a symbol of the government''s commitment to social and technological progress, highlighting Mexico City''s leadership in sustainable energy initiatives.
Julian Willenbrock, Director, Enlight, a Mexican company specializing in decarbonizing the electrical industry, emphasized the untapped potential of solar radiation in Mexico to drive clean energy adoption. This sentiment resonates with government officials and industry leaders, who view projects like CEDA solar installation as catalysts for a greener future.
Looking ahead, Mexico is embarking on ambitious renewable energy projects across the country. The Puerto Peñasco solar plant and the Nachi Cocom park in Yucatan are among the most notable endeavors aimed at furthering the nation''s energy transition agenda. These initiatives underscore Mexico''s commitment to innovation and sustainability in the face of global climate challenges.
According to Juan Carlos Vega Milke, Deputy Energy Minister, Yucatan, the Nachi Cocom solar project has progressed into its testing phase. In April 2023, CFE announced on social media that the first and second phases of the Nachi Cocom park consisted of 11,000 panels. The project aims at providing power to the IE-Tram electric bus corridor, slated for opening in Merida, Yucatan, this year. Additionally, media reports suggest that the renewable plant may contribute to powering part of the Mayan Train route across the state.
Regarding the Puerto Peñasco solar plant, recent information indicates that the second stage of construction is slated to commence between January and February of this year. Sonora Governor Alfonso Durazo hinted at the possibility of exporting energy from the plant to Arizona. The plant''s first stage, inaugurated earlier, boasts a capacity of 120MW, with plans for two additional stages totaling 600MW.
The Plan Sonora initiative, spearheaded by Governor Durazo, aims to attract investments amid the nearshoring trend, offering tax breaks to incentivize firms to establish operations near the solar plant. Although CFE secured a US$98.7 million loan from the French Development Agency (AFD) for construction, there is uncertainty surrounding the government''s financing plan for the entire project.
Mexican authorities, in collaboration with CFE, are spearheading a remarkable transformation in the country''s energy landscape through three pioneering photovoltaic solar projects situated in the states of Sonora and Yucatan, along with a significant undertaking in Mexico City.
In the northern state of Sonora, the 1GW Puerto Peñasco solar facility represents a pivotal step toward renewable energy dominance. The project''s inaugural phase, valued at US$1.6 billion, has already seen the light of day with a 120MW capacity. The second phase, encompassing 300MW, and the third, another 300MW, are underway. Operations are scheduled to commence in February 2024 and April 2026, respectively, with the final phase expected to conclude in 2028. This extended timeline is attributed to a strategic interconnection project with neighboring Baja California.
In July, CFE secured a US$98.7 million loan from the French development agency, AFD, to fuel further construction. Transparency surrounding CFE''s contract allocations is clouded, however, as reports from April 2022 indicated the state-owned enterprise was directly awarding contracts, bypassing formal bidding processes.
According to Sonora Governor Alfonso Durazo, the state is on a path to become one of Mexico''s most important states for renewable energy development, as well as a benchmark for political strategies that benefit the acceleration of Mexico''s energy transition.
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