Industrial self-consumption is beginning to position itself as one of the segments with the greatest potential within the Mexican energy market. Regulatory flexibility is opening up space for new contracting models, and companies are already making moves to capture this opportunity. One of them is 360 Energy, which signed a 20 MW contract in Saltillo under the new scheme enabled in the country and aims to replicate a strategy it is already developing in Argentina and Brazil.
“ We understand that this self-supply model has significant room for growth, and that it will be located in areas with transportation restrictions, as happened in Argentina and Brazil. The same is true here. We understand that there will be transportation problems and restrictions, and that the industry will have to find solutions, ” said Edwin King , Commercial Manager of 360 Energy for Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico.
Market signals are already beginning to reflect this interest. During 2025, distributed generation in Mexico added nearly 1 GW of new installed capacity , driven primarily by systems smaller than 50 kW . Although 360 Energy's project operates on a different scale and model, the expansion of these installations confirms a common trend: more and more users are seeking alternatives to ensure their electricity supply and reduce their dependence on the grid.
For the company, the signing of the project agreement is one of the first signs of the impact the new regulations are beginning to have. As the executive explained, for years the permitting process hampered the economic viability of these types of developments.
“ We were working with the previous regulations, and things weren't working out. Solar projects that are installed in one year can't have permits for two or three years. That makes them unfeasible. Now the timeline is different; the government has understood that it needs to have special channels for these types of projects ,” King stated during his participation in the Future Energy Summit (FES) Mexico.
Following this change, the company projects an acceleration in activity within the segment. “ We are very ambitious for the market. We want to participate strongly initially through self-supply and will surely enter the general market later ,” he stated.
The move comes at a time of expansion for the company . During 2024, 360 Energy doubled its installed capacity in Argentina, from 120 MW to 248 MW , while also developing more than 150 MW in Brazil and Mexico. It is this growth that it now seeks to capitalize on in a market that is beginning to send favorable signals to private investment in generation for large users.
The model that 360 Energy seeks to replicate in Mexico
The experience gained in South America is one of the company's main assets that it intends to bring to the Mexican market. Currently, it operates 8 MW and 12 MW projects in Argentina aimed at supplying large consumers, while in Brazil it is developing 13 MW, 18 MW, and 55 MW projects under similar models.
“ We have to work hand in hand with the industrialist at every step. We have to find solutions immediately. If the work has to be done in a production plant that is operating, we have to take into account the plant's schedules ,” King explained.
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According to the executive, one of the challenges of the new Mexican market will be precisely the need to educate consumers about the available alternatives and the opportunities opened up by the new regulatory framework.
“ We have to teach a lot, we have to prepare the client a lot, put them in the situation, explain to them how the market is coming, what they have to prepare for and what the challenges are that are coming ,” he said.
The company's vision is that energy procurement will become an increasingly strategic variable for industrial competitiveness, especially in a scenario where new consumption patterns are beginning to compete for the same energy resources, such as artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, or energy for blockchain.
Therefore, he added, the commercial task is no longer limited solely to offering energy, but to "explaining to them the range of products that the market has and what the best contracting strategies are."
Financing, quality and storage: the keys to the next stage
As the market evolves, the challenge for developers also expands. In addition to building new projects, they will need to guarantee financing, operation, and performance over increasingly longer contracts.
“ Financing is one of the main challenges. In new markets, it's always difficult to put together a financing plan, but we understand that this obstacle will gradually be overcome ,” King explained.
At the same time, 360 Energy is preparing to enter a new technological phase related to energy storage. This year, it will begin construction on two solar-powered battery storage projects awarded in tenders in Argentina, an experience that will allow it to gain operational knowledge in a segment that is gaining prominence throughout the region.
“ What we are looking for is a long-term maintenance and spare parts agreement that will allow us to meet the warranty requirements of these tenders ,” he said.
With its first contract signed in Mexico and an expanding regional portfolio, the company is betting that industrial self-consumption will become one of the main drivers of growth for the Mexican renewable energy market in the coming years.
“ Mexico has everything to gain, everything to grow. The new regulations open up a lot of dynamism to the market, and we want to be a major player ,” King concluded.