Mexico promises leap in wind power capacity

MEXICO: Mexico's energy liberalisation reform will spur a "leap" for wind power, with at least 1.5GW of new capacity expected annually to 2020, according to energy minister Pedro Joaquin Coldwell.

by Michael McGovern 27 February 2014

Coldwell was speaking at Tuesday's inaugural session of the Mexico WindPower 2014 conference and exhibition.

The energy department expects 20GW of wind power to be "economically viable" by 2020, up from 1.92GW end-2013. The reform targets at least 9.5GW to 2018.

However, detailed regulations of the broad reform, passed in December 2013, remain to be hammered out.

The reform's premise is of 80% electricity sector growth to 2030, requiring free competition and ending the state's tight control on generation, according to Coldwell.

The government is negotiating the creation of a wholesale electricity market for independent power producers, including wind operators, according to Mexican Wind Energy Association (Amdee) delegates.

Coldwell himself confirmed intentions to establish a National Energy Control Center (Cenace) as an independent TSO.

During the inauguration, Amdee president José Adrián Escofet Cedeño said a further 714MW of wind currently under construction will be connected this year. Some developers present at the event said delays due to reform negotiations would push commissioning of much of that capacity back to 2015.