SENER Plan Adds 22 GW of Renewables and $42B Toward 2030

Mexico will add 22.4 gigawatts (GW) of renewable capacity to the National Electric System before 2030, as part of a 32 GW expansion plan presented by President Claudia Sheinbaum on June 24. Total projected investment reaches 739 billion pesos ($42 billion), according to the Ministry of Energy (SENER).

The plan, detailed by Energy Secretary Luz Elena González Escobar, targets 70% of new capacity from clean sources. The goal is to reach 38% renewable electricity generation by decade's end, up from the current level of roughly 24%, according to SENER figures. The expansion is designed to reduce dependence on natural gas imported from Texas, which powers a significant share of the country's combined-cycle plants, and to reshape the system's cost profile ahead of the USMCA review. For the region, the plan represents one of the largest clean infrastructure deployments in Latin America and a clear signal of openness to private investment in a market that has drawn intense attention from international developers.

The technology breakdown presented by SENER projects differentiated growth rates: solar photovoltaic up 140%, geothermal up 90%, wind up 70%, and hydroelectric up 18% through maintenance of existing plants. Currently, 50 solar plants are under development (7,859 megawatts) and 17 wind farms (4,701 MW), with an additional 2,159 MW pending assignment. Financing is split three ways: 42.6% through public-private mixed schemes, 36.6% from CFE's own resources, and 20.8% from private investment, according to pv magazine. CFE will retain 61% of total generation by the end of the current administration. Among flagship projects, the Rafael Galván Maldonado plant in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora stands out: upon completion of its four phases, it will reach 1 GW of capacity and 246 MW of battery storage, with an investment exceeding $1.4 billion.

The plan is projected to avoid 69 million metric tons of CO2 per year, according to SENER estimates. The assignment of the remaining 2,159 MW and progress on regulatory permitting will be the key indicators to watch in the coming months, as they will determine the execution pace of a program reshaping Mexico's electricity mix.

This article was drafted with artificial intelligence assistance from verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.