Market Trends of Mexico Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Industry
Increasing Deployment of Utility-scale Projects
- Solar energy has established itself as one of the renewable energies with the largest presence in Mexico. Mexico had a cumulative utility-scale solar capacity of 6,160 MW at the end of 2021, contributing 4.4% to the country's electricity supply. In the next decade, significant solar development will be in other regions of Mexico. However, most of these projects are concentrated in desert climate regions in the country's north.
- The utility-scale project and commercial and residential projects helped the country have an installed capacity of around 9 GW in 2022.
- Further, the country is expected to have significant growth in the utility sector on account of government initiatives, such as the 2021-2035 Development Program of the National Electrical System. The country will likely increase power generation from clean, renewable sources to reduce air pollution, as per the program.
- Hence, in alignment, the government aims to target 35% of the country's electricity from renewable energies by 2024. Hence, such a scenario would boost the utility segment during the study period.
- Several projects, like Sonora solar project in Puerto Penasco, amounting to nearly USD 100 million, are expected to get commission by late 2023 or early 2024. Further, Energia Aljaval's 300 MW project in Chihuahua State was commissioned in late 2021. Hence, with upcoming projects and government support, the segment is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period.
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Increasing Demand for Decentralized Solar Energy Systems is Expected to Drive the Market
- Decentralized solar systems, also called distributed solar energy systems, are small-scale, self-supply solar energy systems that are less than 0.5 MW in capacity and connected to a distribution circuit with a high concentration of load centers. These solar generators do not need a CRE permit for installation.
- These small-scale solar systems were initially established in rural areas not connected to the national grid. However, residential and commercial buildings in urban areas gradually began installing solar PV panels.
- Though distributed solar generation is still nascent in Mexico, it witnessed rapid growth in the last few years. One of the major factors driving the growth of distributed solar generation is the reduction in the cost of solar PV systems.
- According to Mexico Energy Partners LLC, as of December 2021, Mexico had 2,015 MW of distributed generation installed, primarily solar. It is expected that the company will be able to generate an additional 2,336 MW of distribution power by 2024.
- Further, in 2022, Mexico's solar PV power generation grew by more than 20 percent compared to 2017, reaching about 19.3 TWh.
- Hence, owing to the factors above, the decentralized solar energy systems in the country are likely to grow, which, in turn, is likely to act as a key driver to the market studied during the forecast period.
