Mexico enters a new and decisive phase in its renewable energy expansion. The second call for bids for private generation projects is moving forward with 3,995 MW of wind and solar capacity at stake , while some of the market's leading developers are already making moves to secure capacity.
According to information obtained by Energía Estratégica , Terralia, Cox, Atlas Renewable Energy, and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) are participating in this new round. They are joined by other players: industry sources confirm that AES and Invenergy , which failed to secure projects in the first call for bids under the mixed scheme with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), are preparing for the new bidding processes.
The required capacity, as reported by the Ministry of Energy (SENER), amounts to exactly 3,995 MW: 2,955 MW photovoltaic and 1,040 MW wind . This volume makes the process one of the main renewable capacity blocks still to be defined this year.
Most of the capacity is concentrated in the National Interconnected System (SIN), with 3,589 MW , distributed between 2,549 MW of photovoltaic and 1,040 MW of wind power . The remaining 406 MW will be exclusively solar: 226 MW for the Baja California Interconnected System (SIBC) and 180 MW for Baja California Sur (SIBCS) .
Projects must incorporate storage equivalent to at least 30% of the generation capacity with a duration of three hours , according to the binding planning criteria.
If that proportion were applied to the 3,995 MW ultimately allocated, the tender could attract at least 1,198.5 MW of battery storage , equivalent to approximately 3,595.5 MWh with three-hour configurations. This figure is a mathematical estimate of the target capacity and could increase if developers propose higher percentages or durations.
The new private tender comes after a first experience that already set a concrete benchmark for the market. In December 2025, Mexico awarded more than 3 GW of renewable capacity and 1257.4 MW of storage systems to 14 companies , in the first priority generation process for private companies.
In total, 20 projects were initially selected , although two applicants subsequently withdrew, according to the regulatory body.
This background is key to understanding the scope of the second round. The new process once again pits companies that have already secured capacity against developers who were left out of previous calls for proposals, and groups now seeking to expand their presence in the Mexican market .
Terralia is going for 2400 MW and is positioning itself among the largest players.
One of the most aggressive moves known so far comes from Terralia. Ricardo Hurtado González, the company's CEO , exclusively revealed to Energía Estratégica that they are participating in the private tender with a portfolio of 2400 MW .
The proposal consists of 1800 MW photovoltaic and 600 MW wind power , a portfolio equivalent to around 60% of all the power that SENER seeks to cover through this round, although naturally its presentation does not imply that this volume will be selected.
According to Hurtado González, Terralia participates “in the National Interconnected System and in Baja California Sur” and accompanies its proposals with the “30% of batteries” required for the projects.
The company's offensive is not isolated. Terralia has just completed the first phase of the mixed scheme with CFE , where it was awarded a 705 MW wind project accompanied by approximately 950 MWh of BESS (Bulk Energy Storage System) , an experience it now seeks to capitalize on in the next opportunities opened by the Mexican government.
“ We have participated in all the initiatives convened by the Government ,” Hurtado González points out, confirming that the company’s strategy is not limited to one technology or a single mechanism.
In parallel, Terralia has already submitted a 240 MWh storage project in Monterrey to compete in the exclusive BESS call for proposals.
Big players return to the table
Industry sources consulted by Energía Estratégica also place Cox, Atlas Renewable Energy and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) within this second private round.
The names are not insignificant because they come with a history of recent participation within the various mechanisms that Mexico launched in the last year, both the call for private entities in December 2025, and the first call for the mixed scheme in May of this year.
CIP, for example, was one of the key players in the first round of priority projects for private investors , in which it secured two developments in Campeche: La Alegría, with 694.2 MW, and La Esperanza, with 350.7 MW . Together, both projects reach 1,044.9 MW .
Atlas Renewable Energy , on the other hand, secured capacity within the mixed scheme with CFE . According to information obtained by this publication, the company was selected to develop the CFV Concepción Mendizábal Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 projects. Cox participated in the process but was not selected.
Cox also arrives amidst a transformation of its Mexican presence. Months ago, it announced the purchase of Iberdrola México for $4.2 billion , a transaction that includes 2,600 MW of installed capacity, of which 1,232 MW are renewable , in addition to a 12 GW development portfolio and a supplier with more than 500 large customers and around 25% market share in its segment.
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This move also indirectly connects with the first private bidding round. Among the winning bidders was Green Park Energy, a subsidiary of Iberdrola , with two photovoltaic plants: Tecozautla, with 122.3 MW in Hidalgo, and El Toro, with 107 MW in Guanajuato .
Both developments incorporate batteries: 31.3 MW in Tecozautla and 29.7 MW in El Toro , respectively.
The 3,995 MW allow us to anticipate the next joint tender with CFE.
The size of the private call for bids becomes even more relevant when considering the total volume that Mexico intends to allocate before the end of 2026.
The Energy Secretariat assured that it has a pending portfolio of 6754 MW of renewables , made up of 4,595 MW photovoltaic and solar thermal and 2159 MW wind , which must be distributed among the mechanisms still in progress.
“ The goal is to have all the new plants that are required assigned this year ,” says Luz Elena González , Secretary of Energy.
From there, a relevant interpretation for the market emerges. If the 3,995 MW planned for this second private tender were awarded in full and became part of the 6,754 MW remaining , approximately 2,759 MW would remain to be channeled through the mixed mechanism with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE).
The calculation would yield, in technological terms, around 1640 MW of solar or solar thermal power and 1119 MW of wind power still available.
This is an inference based on the reported figures and not an official target already assigned to a future joint tender with CFE . The final capacity of this mechanism could be higher or lower due to planning modifications, overlapping projects, withdrawals, or subsequent adjustments by SENER.
And past experience shows there is no shortage of private sector appetite. The first major call for bids under the new mixed scheme with CFE began with more than 200 initiatives and nearly 38 GW under evaluation , compared to a requirement of approximately 7.5 GW. Subsequently, CFE awarded 37 projects to 31 developers . Industry sources estimated at the time a capacity exceeding 7,411 MW .
This process differs from the second private bidding round analyzed in this article. Under the mixed model, CFE participates in the project structure and retains the control stipulated by the new framework , while the private bidding process opens another channel for incorporating private capital and generation.
Another parallel race: 935 MW of stand-alone storage
While private generation and projects associated with CFE are progressing through their respective channels, Mexico has also opened another front specifically focused on independent storage .
The required capacity amounts to 935 MW of stand-alone Electrical Energy Storage Systems (EES) , all with a duration of three hours . If the target were fully met, the market would add approximately 2,805 MWh of energy capacity .
The official distribution included in the July amendment places the Northern Regional Control Management as the main market, with 245 MW . It is followed by Eastern, with 180 MW; Northwest, with 160 MW; Baja California, with 140 MW; Peninsular, with another 140 MW; Baja California Sur, with 50 MW; and Western, with 20 MW . All must deliver three hours. The table appears explicitly on page 7 of the agreement published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF).
The coexistence of the three fronts — private generation, partnerships with CFE and BESS stand-alone — explains why companies like Terralia, AES, Invenergy, Cox, Atlas and CIP are repositioning their portfolios and analyzing more than one entry point at the same time.
The regulation itself stipulates that, when evaluating projects, factors such as entry into commercial operation, location, congestion relief, power contribution, regional reliability, operational flexibility, storage performance, financing and economic efficiency must be considered.
Furthermore, SENER will give priority within the strategic mechanism to projects whose entry into commercial operation is planned before 2030 , another fact that increases the weight of the real maturity of the developments compared to the large purely nominal portfolios.
With 3,995 MW of private capacity now in play, 935 MW of stand-alone storage capacity, and new mixed projects still to be structured , Mexico enters the second half of 2026, where the discussion begins to shift from how much interest exists to which companies have projects mature enough to transform that interest into permits, contracts, batteries, and effectively built infrastructure .
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Strategic Energy will be present at Intersolar
LATAM is going through a key moment for the expansion of renewable energies, driven by new regulatory challenges, the growth of electricity demand and the development of storage.
In this context, Energía Estratégica will be present at two of the leading solar industry events in Latin America: The Smarter E South America, from August 25 to 27 in São Paulo, Brazil, and Intersolar Mexico, from September 1 to 3 in Mexico City . From both events, the publication will provide special coverage with exclusive interviews, regulatory analysis, and the key developments that will shape the future of regional markets.