Mexico is experiencing one of its most dynamic periods for renewable energy development in recent years. The recent awarding of 7,411 MW distributed across 37 projects under the new mixed scheme between private companies and the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) , along with current calls for bids for private developments, new mixed projects, and energy storage, constitutes an investment portfolio that should begin to materialize in the coming years.
The awarded volume represents one of the strongest signs of reactivation of the Mexican electricity market in almost a decade. The selected projects come from a call for proposals that received more than 200 initiatives and nearly 38 GW under evaluation, of which 37 developments with a capacity of 7,411 MW were ultimately chosen.
However, for the industry, the challenge is no longer solely about securing technology or financing. The conversation is shifting to another area: the capacity of the entire value chain to support projects that must meet demanding timelines and achieve their commercial operation dates before the end of the decade.
In that context, Miguel Covarrubias , Sales Director for Latin America at Jinko Solar, argues that the competitiveness of new developments will increasingly depend on the comprehensive optimization of projects.
“Viability depends on optimization from the origin to the COD, in the different links of the chain, including logically technological efficiency,” Covarrubias stated during his participation in Future Energy Summit (FES) Mexico, explaining that the company works with EPC contractors and developers to improve the viability of initiatives from the early stages to commissioning.
“The conditions are right to move from the PPT to the hammer and start putting into practice what has been discussed for quite some time,” he added.
The need to accelerate implementation also coincides with a new stage for the photovoltaic industry. According to Covarrubias, following increases driven by factors such as the price of silver and tax changes in China, the market is beginning to adapt to a different cost structure.
“We have already seen a stabilization of the price in the medium term, which has helped to adapt economic models to the new price reality of panels,” he noted.
However, the executive warned that future competitiveness will increasingly depend on manufacturers' ability to improve equipment performance.
“Last year’s prices and those of previous years are not coming back. What we are looking for is to optimize the most efficient modules and achieve more competitive prices,” he stated.
From technological development to execution capacity
The new market phase also compels manufacturers to strengthen their responsiveness. Beyond module efficiency or battery competitiveness, developers are beginning to demand technical support, local assistance, and equipment availability to meet planned timelines.
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In that scenario, José Antonio Pérez , Sales Director for Latin America at Jinko ESS, believes that the industry is going through a turning point.
“We are at a turning point right now where the big players are really going to end up being those in the large-scale market,” Pérez said during his presentation at FES Mexico.
The company enters this new phase backed by a consolidated global presence. Jinko has sold over 400 GW of solar panels worldwide , while its Tiger Neo module family has grown from 11 GW to 300 GW of cumulative shipments in just five years , making it one of the fastest-growing photovoltaic platforms in the industry.
Along those lines, Covarrubias highlighted the evolution of the Tiger Neo family, whose TOPCon technology already achieves efficiencies close to 25%.
“We went from a module in the same dimensions of a 620 to a 650 or 670 W, depending on the supply dates, which is an important optimization not only in power but also in energy,” the executive explained.
The strategy is also supported by a strong commitment to technological innovation. According to Covarrubias, the company continues to develop specific solutions for different markets and operating conditions in Latin America.
“We have developed certain more specific lines for certain more particular uses. More resistant modules, uses that Central America and the Caribbean require quite a lot, anti-glare modules that are also used quite a lot in Mexico, and modules for what we call 'special scenarios',” Covarrubias explained.
At the same time, the firm strengthened its specialized energy storage structure. According to Pérez, the team dedicated exclusively to this business in Latin America grew from two people in 2023 to 26 employees today.
“As we close more and more projects, the team continues to grow steadily,” he emphasized.
The strategy aims to respond to a demand that no longer only seeks renewable generation, but also operational reliability and energy quality.
“We are seeing that it is a basic market need that is needed right now, especially for consumers in commercial and industrial systems to guarantee their energy supply in the face of the power outages and problems with power quality,” Pérez said.
This is complemented by a strategy focused on local technical support and increasingly demanding response times: "We respond within 24 to 48 hours at most," the executive emphasized.
From Jinko ESS's perspective, the next stage of the Mexican market will not only be marked by the entry into operation of new projects, but also by the incorporation of advanced functionalities that will strengthen the network.
“We need to see a project already up and running with Grid Forming, Black Start, and primary, secondary, and even tertiary regulation. What would I love to see next year? More projects coming out to help us reach the 2030 goal,” Pérez concluded.