Mexico is advancing in a structural transformation of its electricity market with the publication of new provisions by the National Energy Commission (CNE) and the acquisition mechanisms of the National Energy Control Center (CENACE), which consolidate storage as a key asset for the reliability of the system.
Published on April 3, 2026, these measures respond to increasing pressure on electricity demand driven, among other factors, by data centers and structural limitations of the system.
The new scheme allows CENACE to acquire Energy, Power and Associated Products from both power plants and private storage systems, configuring a dynamic model based on demand forecasts, weather conditions and operational contingencies.
Claudio Rodríguez Galán, Co-Head of the Latin American Practice Group at DWF, noted: "We detected an interesting administrative flexibility that seeks to help with the time and requirements needed to obtain this Reliability.
This flexibility is obvious, necessary, and welcome."
One of the most relevant advances is the incorporation of operational flexibility mechanisms, such as temporary interconnection and the figure of temporary market participant, which allow for a faster entry of new capacity.
According to Rodríguez Galán, "it allows for temporary interconnection after registration of interest , which reduces initial barriers for projects under development.
In parallel, the new economic model introduces the concept of a monomial price, which integrates all costs into a single offer and redefines the revenue logic of projects.
However, the new framework also raises concerns regarding investment, particularly due to the transfer of risks to the private sector. Rodríguez Galán warned that "there are elements that could affect the appetite of Power Plant Units or Storage Systems to participate , which introduces uncertainty into market development."
Among the main challenges, the absence of incentives such as Clean Energy Certificates (CELs) stands out, which limits the potential for additional income for storage projects.
This is compounded by a rigid contractual framework that restricts the ability to manage macroeconomic risks.
According to the executive, "a change in economic conditions, exchange rate or unavailability of fuels cannot be claimed as force majeure , which increases the financial exposure of developers.
The model also establishes that the private sector assumes all technical, legal and operational responsibilities, consolidating a scheme where the risk falls almost exclusively on the investors.
In the words of the specialist, "the legal acts and guarantees are the responsibility of the private party, without responsibility for CENACE," which redefines the risk-return balance of the sector.
Additionally, the requirement of guarantees close to 100,000 pesos per MW and the setting of unique, fixed and invariable prices throughout the contractual duration introduce rigidities that impact the bankability of the projects.
In parallel, the CNE provisions establish a comprehensive framework for the integration of Electrical Energy Storage Systems (EESS), redefining their role within the electrical system and their interaction with the market.
In this new approach, storage is no longer treated as an extension of electricity generation and acquires its own regulatory identity, which implies a structural change in its participation within the market.
From this redefinition, it is no longer mandatory to channel its operation through a generating plant, but a specific figure is enabled, the storage facility, as a regulated subject with the ability to interact directly in the system.
This redesign also introduces a differentiated permissions scheme that distinguishes between associated and non-associated configurations, bringing greater clarity to project development. While systems linked to power plants or load centers do not require additional independent authorizations, those that operate autonomously must comply with specific requirements.
At the same time, the regulations reorganize and expand the forms of participation, incorporating more flexible schemes that are aligned with the technological evolution of the sector.
In this sense, self-consumption is consolidating as a central figure, replacing previous schemes such as self-supply, along with the possibility of developing storage in grouped configurations, in network infrastructure or as energy backup mechanisms.
This approach allows for a greater diversity of operating models, enabling everything from decentralized solutions for large consumers to more complex systemic optimization schemes, which significantly expands the scope of storage in the country.
Likewise, storage is recognized in certain cases as part of the strategic electrical infrastructure, particularly when it is integrated into transmission and distribution networks, which implies its operation under state control and outside the logic of the wholesale electricity market.
Finally, the possibility of implementing storage systems jointly between different participants is enabled, under specific conditions of location, operation and responsibility, introducing new alternatives for collaborative development.
In this context, storage emerges as a strategic asset for the energy transition in Mexico, providing flexibility, support and stability to the electrical system, especially in scenarios of high renewable penetration.
The regulations even contemplate its mandatory integration in certain cases to mitigate variability.
From a technical point of view, the new guidelines impose demanding parameters in capacity, power, response times and operational performance, in addition to compliance with international standards, raising the threshold for entry into the market.
Thus, the new framework poses a central tension for the sector: while seeking to resolve reliability emergencies and modernize the operation of the system, it also redefines investment conditions in a balance where regulatory certainty and economic viability will be determining factors for the future of storage in Mexico.