Mexico plans to add 410 MW of electricity supply for data centers between the end of 2026 and the first quarter of 2027 , in an industry expansion scenario that projects reaching a demand of 1730 MW by 2031. However, the realization of these investments will depend primarily on the transmission, distribution, and interconnection capacity of the national electricity system.
"From the projected figure of 1730 MW, it is necessary to deduct 205 MW by the end of 2026 since these are works that, at the time of calculating the power required during the first quarter of this year, were in their construction stage and will be completed in a few months," said Adriana Rivera Cerecedo, executive director of the Mexican Association of Data Centers (MEXDC), in dialogue with Energía Estratégica.
The MEXDC representative also added: "By the first quarter of 2027, we expect to have an equal amount of energy transmitted to the data centers that requested demand."
Both power blocks represent 23.7% of the 1730 MW projected for 2031 , although the association does not provide a definitive breakdown of the projects that would cover the rest of the demand nor does it specify what proportion has permits, land or secured electricity contracts.
According to the study prepared by DCD Intelligence and IDC for MEXDC , the electricity requirements of the industry would grow from the 279 MW considered as the basis of the survey to 1730 MW in 2031 , which represents a multiplication of more than six times.
In parallel, the organization estimates an economic impact of USD 82.5 billion over the next few years and the generation of more than 133,000 jobs associated with the construction and operation of these facilities.
However, Rivera Cerecedo clarifies that the economic estimate does not equate to a list of projects with individually committed investments. The association also does not publish an official figure on the exact number of new data centers that will become operational by 2031.
In that sense, the executive explains that the size of the market is measured mainly by megawatts of capacity and not by the number of installations, due to the power differences that may exist between technological developments.
Data centers finance infrastructure and deliver it to CFE
One of the central aspects of the growth of this industry is the scheme that the companies maintain.
“These are private investments made by data centers in electrical infrastructure, which are donated to the Federal Electricity Commission so that this government entity, in turn, can deliver power to the data centers and, at the same time, benefit the population that requires it or that increases its consumption,” the executive stated.
These works include substations, switching yards, transmission and distribution lines, as well as other equipment necessary to connect the technological complexes to the national grid.
In parallel, MEXDC is holding high-level meetings with CFE to coordinate the energy requirements of future facilities with public investment planning.
The directive confirms that the electric company has identified the additional needs of the industry and that the meetings involve officials from the areas of Operation, Transmission, Distribution, Generation, Planning and Qualified personnel.
"This does not mean that we will stop investing, but rather that CFE will be able to understand our needs and plan its own investments to complement sections of the electrical grid with the greatest social potential," Rivera Cerecedo stated.
The goal is to coordinate private investments with the infrastructure expansions that the state-owned company will carry out, so that the expansion of data centers does not depend exclusively on new generation facilities.
"Mexico has the necessary energy capacity to supply this demand and even more. The challenge lies not in generating energy, but in transporting it from the points where it is produced to the regions where data centers are already installed or are planned for development," he warned.
Therefore, the expansion of electrical networks appears as one of the fundamental conditions for investment projections to become operational infrastructure .
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The program, framed within the 2026-2030 Expansion Plan , comprises 2152 circuit kilometers and 7180 MVA of transformation, with interventions in lines and substations.
Among the planned actions are electrical reinforcements in Querétaro, one of Mexico's main data center hubs. According to the Data Center Map directory, the region has 21 registered facilities, while Mexico City and its surrounding area have 14.
The rollout includes Microsoft, Google, Amazon, KIO, ODATA/Aligned, Equinix, and Ascenty , which already have active or planned projects.
This territorial concentration raises the need to accompany technological growth with sufficient transmission and distribution infrastructure in the areas that attract the most developments.
Despite the market's dynamism, MEXDC identifies around ten initiatives in various stages of development and acknowledges that there are previously announced projects whose execution has not yet materialized.
"We have a couple of announced projects on hold, but for various reasons they haven't been able to be finalized," Rivera Cerecedo stated.
The industry representative did not specify what these initiatives are, nor did she attribute the delays solely to energy difficulties. Furthermore, she clarified that the capacities, timelines, and technical specifications of the projects are confidential information belonging to the responsible companies.
In this context, electricity availability is one of the factors that influence investment decisions, along with connectivity, access to specialized talent, and regulatory certainty.
Renewables and storage: opportunities in the face of new demand
The expansion of data centers also represents an opportunity for the development of renewable energy, storage systems and new electricity contracting schemes , although the industry has not yet set concrete goals for technological participation.
Rivera Cerecedo points out that the national electricity grid will continue to be the main component of supply, while various operators explore power purchase agreements (PPAs), qualified supply, clean energy certificates and pilot alternatives for complementary generation .
However, the MEXDC does not publish an official estimate of the battery storage capacity that the sector would require, nor of the volume of renewable investment specifically associated with its future needs.
The executive warns that access to low-carbon electricity may become more relevant in the competition for international investments, particularly against Brazil and Chile , markets that are also seeking to attract digital infrastructure.
"The availability of renewable energy can become one of the major differentiators for attracting new technology campuses, cloud infrastructure, and future investments associated with artificial intelligence," said Rivera Cerecedo.
Along these lines, the incorporation of solar and wind power generation, combined with storage and firm sources, could contribute to providing greater stability and flexibility to the supply of technological developments.
"As the share of renewable energy increases, storage will be a fundamental element in providing stability, resilience and flexibility to the system," he added.
The association also views favorably the clean generation investments projected by the federal administration, considering that they could contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of the electricity supply used by operators.
"The reality is that energy infrastructure and digital infrastructure can no longer be developed separately. Both are part of the same competitiveness strategy for Mexico," concludes Rivera Cerecedo.
Thus, the country's challenge is not limited to meeting the 410 MW planned between the end of 2026 and the beginning of 2027 , but to establishing the necessary electrical and regulatory conditions to support a demand of 1730 MW by 2031 and to realize the estimated economic impact for the industry.
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