Tuto Power is preparing its own 180 MW project to participate in the second call for the mixed scheme promoted by the Ministry of Energy (SENER) , a mechanism that seeks to accelerate the incorporation of new generation capacity in Mexico under models that include both partnerships with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and the development of private projects.
This was confirmed by Darío Leoz , CEO of Tuto Power , in an exclusive interview during Future Energy Summit (FES) Mexico 2026 , where he stated that the company expects to begin construction of the power plant during 2027.
“We are preparing a 180 MW mixed-use project, which is our own development. The goal is to begin construction in 2027,” Leoz stated. The executive explained that the initiative will be submitted in the new bidding process, after the plant was unable to participate in the previous one.
"The current one did not enter the central area where we have the project located," he specified.
Watch the full interview
This move comes at a pivotal moment for the Mexican electricity market. The Ministry of Energy (SENER) is moving forward with this second round of projects included in the Binding Planning of the National Electric System, with over 6 GW up for grabs to be awarded this year. The scheme expands participation options for private developers and joint ventures with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE). Among the regulatory updates, the incorporation of energy storage equivalent to 30% of the capacity of the new developments stands out, a sign that is accelerating the sector's interest in integrating batteries on a large scale.
Industrial customers now demand more than just price.
Beyond its foray into generation development, Tuto Power's main activity remains the qualified supply of electricity to large industrial consumers, a segment in which it has operated for a decade. From this position, the company observes a transformation in its customers' needs, who no longer base their decisions solely on the price of electricity, but also on cost predictability, energy security, and the incorporation of solutions such as energy storage and distributed generation.
"We were born right when the qualified supply was born," Leoz recalled.
As he explained, while new users continue to prioritize more flexible contracts and competitive prices, those who have been in the market for several years are beginning to focus on other variables, especially the stability of their energy costs.
"What they are fundamentally asking for now is a lot of price predictability," he said.
The executive links this trend to the increase in regulated costs, the rising cost of power, and the growing concern about capacity availability in certain regions of the country.
As a result, more and more industries are supplementing their electricity supply with their own generation and storage solutions to reduce operational risks.
"Customers are installing isolated supply plants within the scope of their qualified supply, batteries and storage within their plants to take advantage of base load hours and use them at peak times, as well as distributed generation plants," he explained.
According to the executive, this transformation even alters the business dynamics of qualified suppliers. Today, many large consumers change suppliers every three to five years, making customer retention a strategic priority.
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“The percentage of those migrating to qualified user status is growing by around double digits, approximately 10%. We're talking about 1.5 GW per year,” Leoz stated during his participation in the Future Energy Summit (FES) Mexico panel.
The regulatory development of energy storage has a direct correlation with the commercial and industrial market. For Tuto Power, the incorporation of batteries is no longer a pilot project and is beginning to solidify as a standard tool for improving energy efficiency and managing costs.
" It's growing a lot ," Leoz said, referring to the demand for storage systems.
As an example, he mentions the case of Envases Universales , a company that, after an initial experience, returned to this technology and is currently installing systems in various industrial plants. " They are installing small batteries of up to 700 kW, which is permitted by regulations, and are replicating them in all their plants ," he explained.
The CEO believes that the segment has maintained double-digit growth for the past two years and will continue to expand, driven by both regulation and the operational needs of the industry.
In his opinion, the behavior will be similar to that observed in distributed generation during the last few years, a market that experienced strong expansion and continues to incorporate new capacity.
Watch the full interview
The experience that supports the new project
Before moving towards developing its own generation, Tuto Power consolidated its position within the qualified supply sector through large-scale contracts with industrial customers.
One of the milestones was its participation in Puerto Libertad Solar , a 405 MW complex divided into two stages, where the second plant was developed under a private power purchase agreement to supply paper mill customers.
"The second plant was a private PPA exclusively with us; a 137 MW solar plant," Leoz highlighted.
In addition, the company recently managed to renew its supply contract with Lamosa Porcelanite , one of the leading manufacturers of ceramic flooring in Mexico.
" For us, renewing a contract twice with a client in a bidding process with large groups, a client who consumes 270 GWh per year, is our most recent success story ," he said.
According to the executive, the renewal also responded to the client's demand for a portfolio that incorporates renewable generation, a trend that is beginning to be repeated among large industrial consumers.
In this context, the development of the 180 MW project represents a natural step in the company's evolution. With a new bidding process underway, a market demanding greater capacity, and regulations incorporating energy storage as a structural component, Tuto Power seeks to position itself for the next stage of expansion of the Mexican electricity system.