Energy storage is beginning to gain prominence in Mexico. Renewable energy projects awarded under the new mixed investment scheme with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), which will incorporate BESS systems, will begin deployment between 2027 and 2029. However, while the market awaits the commissioning of this new capacity, the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector is emerging as the main business opportunity for energy storage, driven by electricity demand that is growing faster than the grid's capacity to respond.
"We shouldn't just focus on the utility sector. While all mixed-use investment will begin in Q4 of 2027, 2028, and 2029, demand is already insufficient. Therefore, the entire commercial and industrial sector also needs C&I projects because they can't wait for the Mexican grid to support them," stated Juan Maisterra, Latin America manager for Gotion, during his participation in the Future Energy Summit (FES) Mexico.
In that regard, Maisterra also highlighted the potential of self-supply schemes of up to 20 MW, which could become one of the main ways to accelerate the adoption of batteries in the coming years.
Gotion's vision coincides with a period of strong momentum for energy storage in Mexico. The 37 projects awarded under the mixed investment scheme between private companies and the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) total approximately 7,400 MW of renewable capacity and must incorporate storage systems equivalent to three hours and at least 30% of the installed capacity .
Some projects even far exceed that requirement. Among them, the El Chorro project, driven by Teralia, stands out, which envisions a battery storage integration of nearly 45% , reflecting the growing importance of BESS systems within the country's new energy infrastructure.
"I believe all projects are viable, but they depend on how they are scaled and structured. In Mexico, of course, mixed investment and utility projects are now starting to take off, but we have issues with implementation and timing. It's good that the market has finally woken up; although it may have woken up late, it's never a bad time," he noted.
However, the executive warned that one of the main challenges for the orderly growth of the sector will be to avoid some of the problems that were already observed during the photovoltaic boom in the country.
It's worth noting that Mexico is a market undergoing significant redefinition, where the value of energy storage is shifting towards more structured and predictable models. Within this context, the government has recently moved forward with new regulations and administrative provisions that outline the role of energy storage within the electricity system, marking a turning point for its large-scale deployment.
The challenge of regulating an accelerating industry
As expectations for new projects grow, so does the pressure to accelerate development, bidding processes, and execution timelines. According to Maisterra, this speed can become a risk if it is not accompanied by clear technical standards and greater coordination among all stakeholders in the supply chain.
"There's a lot of noise in the market due to timing and requirements. Everyone wants to get in very quickly, and there's a lack of order in the market. There are no clear requirements regarding what's needed for installation," he pointed out.
The executive believes that the storage industry has an opportunity to avoid mistakes that still persist in other energy segments.
"We saw it in the Mexican photovoltaic market. There's a boom, but ultimately there's no order as such. There are many poorly done photovoltaic installations in Mexico because the necessary standards that have to be met are not in place," he stated.
Along these lines, Maisterra proposes greater coordination between manufacturers, integrators, developers, and authorities to establish realistic requirements from the initial stages of projects and avoid subsequent bottlenecks.
"As an industry, the most challenging thing is to have order and for manufacturers, EPC contractors, and the government to have real coordination so that they ask for real things," he stated.
Local support and security: our priorities as manufacturers
Beyond price or technical features, Maisterra believes that one of the aspects that developers should evaluate most carefully is the responsiveness of manufacturers once the systems are operational.
"What they should prioritize is having a manufacturer that provides them with support. It's not just about who gives me the best price or who promises me the best solution, but who is there to respond when they need to," he emphasized.
In that regard, he highlighted that Gotion has industrial operations in the United States, which allows it to offer faster response times for the Mexican market in the event of warranty claims or operational failures.
Another aspect that is gaining importance as BESS installations grow is safety. On this point, Maisterra noted that innovation no longer consists solely of increasing the energy density of batteries, but also of developing additional fire protection mechanisms.
"We are offering something very interesting that our solutions have, which is a cell flooding system. Before the fire extinguisher or water system is activated, we can cool our cells before any fire starts and we can flood our packs," he explained.
According to the executive, the key will be to adapt each solution to the particular characteristics of each project to guarantee its performance throughout the useful life of the assets.
"We get very involved in each project with our clients to determine, depending on the usage and location, how we guarantee that our cell will work. We are a company that wants to be completely immersed in our clients' lives to ensure that what we promise becomes reality," he concluded.