GIZ Mexico tests three models to bring green hydrogen to Europe

The German Society for International Cooperation Mexico launched a tender to determine which renewable energy supply scheme is the most robust for producing hydrogen in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, under the demands of the European market.

The competition will compare three configurations: isolated self-consumption —off-grid—, interconnected self-consumption and a PPA via grid under qualified supply , under a comparison that will cover technical performance, costs and regulatory compatibility.

The critical point will be compliance with the European Union's Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) and, specifically, with the additionality, temporal and geographical correlation requirements applicable to Non-Biological Renewable Fuels (NBRF).

The analysis will focus on Coatzacoalcos , an industrial and port hub on the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. In addition to green hydrogen, the scope includes derivatives with export potential such as green ammonia, methanol, and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) .

At the local level, the Hydrogen Guidelines of the Ministry of Energy, the Electricity Sector Law and other provisions related to the production and contracting of electricity will be taken into consideration.

The second stage will focus on analyzing the available resources. This will include indicative surveys of territorial availability, photovoltaic and wind power generation, and their respective hourly profiles in the selected area.

It will not be enough to simply determine which one has the lowest energy cost. The recommendation will have to consider economics, operational aspects, and eligibility as an RFNBO ( Regional Fixed-Income Block Organisation), since the electrical configuration will determine Mexican production's access to the European Union.

In particular, the additionality requirement will necessitate a review of the link between new renewable capacity and electrolysis. This will be compounded by the temporal and geographical conditions required to link generation and consumption.

The comparison of configurations and recommendations for the Hub will be developed over eight weeks . Full implementation is planned between October 2026 and April 2027.

The competition for the contract will have a strong curriculum component. Personnel qualifications account for 70% of the 1000 points in the technical evaluation , compared to 30% allocated to the methodological approach. However, only those who score above 500 out of 1000 points will be eligible for the opening of the financial bid.

Salt caverns: the other business that GIZ will put under analysis

The fourth product will depart from the export vector to study another application: power-to-power electrical storage using renewable H2 in salt caverns .

The evaluation must be framed within the Administrative Provisions for Storage of the National Energy Commission (CNE), published in March 2026 , and develop business models for large-scale facilities.

One of the key indicators will be the levelized cost of storage (LCOS) . The product will have a 12-week timeframe and must demonstrate both technical and financial viability.

In parallel, interested parties must comply with strict formal requirements. The technical proposal will have a maximum of ten pages , not counting CVs, which are limited to four pages per professional.

There is also a direct cause for exclusion: no price or rate may appear in the technical documentation . The technical and economic components must be submitted in separate ZIP folders.

The contract will be awarded on a lump sum basis. The bid must include fees, travel, per diem, materials, and other expenses, and must also include the corresponding daily reference rate for specialists in the financial offer.

Inquiries can be made until September 23, 2026. The deadline for submissions is September 30 at 23:59 hours , while the awarding of the contract is scheduled to begin on October 13.

The winner would begin work that same month and will have assignments until April 2027. In addition, they must maintain a positive compliance opinion in accordance with article 32-D of the Federal Tax Code and comply with Mexican legislation.

The ownership and exploitation rights of the results will be irrevocably and exclusively assigned to GIZ.

The bidding process will thus establish figures and regulatory conditions for three different electrical architectures for Coatzacoalcos . The key decision will not only be the production cost of each, but also which one combines competitiveness, operational efficiency, and European compliance to develop an export chain for hydrogen and its derivatives from Mexico.