The Head of Government, Martí Batres Guadarrama, delivered to the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) the Central de Abasto (CEDA) Photovoltaic Plant, the largest in the world installed on the roof of a public market, as part of the Environmental and Climate Change Program of Mexico City , with an investment of 600 million pesos, which will allow the generation of up to 25 GWh of clean energy per year, benefiting residents and merchants of the Iztapalapa Borough.
He emphasized that the completion of this project is part of the 100 commitments presented on January 31st for the next 100 days of his term as head of the Mexico City government. "Today we are here, delivering to the Federal Electricity Commission the world's largest photovoltaic plant, installed on the roof of a public market, which gives us great pleasure."
With that, we've fulfilled another of the 100 points we committed to achieving in the next 100 days, starting January 31st. (...) This will allow us to produce enough electricity to power 10,000 homes in Mexico City; that's the new electricity we'll have," he stated. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkQg-01h2Zc He emphasized that this action will help mitigate more than 11,400 tons of CO2 annually, equivalent to the reforestation and care of approximately 29,200 pine trees for 50 years.
Furthermore, he said, it will represent a savings of 3.5 million pesos per year in the payment of the CEDA's electricity bill and will allow progress towards Mexico's energy sovereignty.
"That is the environmental value of this photovoltaic plant."
But it should also be noted that this places us in a position of great responsibility, two very important responsibilities: one, the energy transition to so-called clean energy, and two, something very important, Mexico's energy sovereignty. (⬦) This idea for the photovoltaic plant here on the roofs of the Central de Abasto (wholesale market) arose from an initiative proposed by the then Head of Government, Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum, to Mr. Manuel Bartlett, director of the Federal Electricity Commission.
You know that Dr. Sheinbaum is a physicist, she has a degree in Physics, a master's degree in Engineering, and a doctorate in Energy Engineering, and she was Secretary of the Environment, here with Mr. Andrés Manuel López Obrador when he was Head of Government.
"So, environmental and energy issues have always been a source of interest and concern for her, and that led her to start this project," she commented.
For his part, the director of the CFE, Manuel Bartlett Díaz, reiterated the social commitment to maintaining the plant's proper functioning in order to provide clean and affordable energy for the public. "This is an important symbol; it's not just another electricity project. It's truly a demonstration that the City Government has prioritized technological and social development, because this plant represents social development and social responsibility, serving as an example for the entire city," he stated.
In his message, the Secretary of Energy of the Government of Mexico (SENER), Miguel Ángel Maciel Torres, celebrated the actions of the current administration in the transition towards the development of sustainable and self-sufficient energy for the future of the country.
"This will help in terms of mitigating greenhouse gases, adapting to climate change, and of course achieving the self-sufficiency goals that we as a country have set for ourselves before the world, as commitments of this government led by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador," he said.
Finally, the Secretary of Economic Development (SEDECO), Fadlala Akabani Hneide, reported that the solar plant facilities will be operated by the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), through innovative technologies that promote the responsible consumption of electrical energy in favor of the environment and the economy of the inhabitants.
He mentioned that the works were carried out in collaboration with the Institute for Construction Safety, the Fund for Energy Transition and Sustainable Energy Use (FOTEASE), BANOBRAS, the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), and the National Energy Control Center (CENACE), and comprise 32,000 solar panels distributed across the roofs of 21 buildings at the CEDA (Central de Abasto), covering an area of 21 hectares. "We are witnessing an event that marks a turning point in the history of energy consumption and the energy transition; Mexico City is at the forefront nationally."
"And here, look, it's 21 hectares, it's more than 30,000 solar panels, and they will be able to meet the needs of the common areas of the Central de Abasto, support the production and marketing of products here for the established merchants of the Central de Abasto to reduce their operating costs," he concluded.