The new phase of renewable energy expansion in Mexico will no longer depend solely on securing a contract. The ability to meet the interconnection, transmission, and operational requirements demanded by the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and the National Energy Control Center (Cenace) is emerging as a key factor in ensuring projects become operational on time and as planned.
In that scenario, Siemens asserts that its main differentiator lies precisely in knowing how both organizations work , after decades of supplying technology for generation, transmission, distribution and control systems for the electric system operator.
"Our main and largest client in Mexico is the Federal Electricity Commission. We have a very large installed base in generation, distribution and transmission," said Yolotzin Bautista , Business Development Power Utilities Vertical at Siemens, during her participation in Future Energy Summit (FES) Mexico.
The executive stated that this experience also extends to Cenace , since a large part of the system's control regions operate with the company's technology.
"We have a very broad understanding of how the electrical grid operates in Mexico and how the customer is doing; we know them," he said.
The timing is not coincidental. The Ministry of Energy (Sener) aims to award more than 6 GW this year through calls for bids for mixed-generation plants and private companies, while the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) is moving forward with strategic projects such as Puerto Peñasco, the largest photovoltaic complex in Latin America, and Oasis, an initiative that will combine solar power generation, battery storage, and green hydrogen in Baja California Sur. Together, these developments herald a new era for renewables, where implementation and integration into the National Electric System will be as crucial as the construction of new capacity.
In this context, Siemens hopes that the new wave of investment will also transform its client portfolio. While CFE remains its main partner in Mexico, the company is looking to expand its participation in private projects.
"We hope that all these new parks that are being planned will become our clients and we will become their technology partners," Bautista said.
The regulatory change and the new calls for proposals revived expectations in the sector, although Siemens warns that the new scenario will also require greater technical preparation on the part of developers.
"It seems like paradise with the new rules, with what's coming, but you also have to know how to play this paradise," Bautista stated.
Beyond the award: the requirements that will set the pace of the projects
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According to the executive, the challenge begins once the contract is awarded. He maintains that the interconnection of the power plants, the electrical studies, the transmission works, and compliance with the technical requirements of the CFE and Cenace will be crucial for the projects to become operational without delays.
Based on that experience, Siemens supports developers from the early stages of the project through feasibility studies, simulations and mathematical models to determine the most suitable points for their connection to the National Electric System.
"We can tell our clients when a renewable energy project is viable, when it is not viable, and where they can connect," Bautista explained.
The company representative noted that this support also includes high-efficiency inverters, advanced plant controllers, medium-voltage solutions, and digital platforms, with the aim of reducing commissioning times.
"CFE has historically bought from us when it comes to transmission, issues with the SCADA servers that send data to Cenace, which can then be a headache," he said.
According to Bautista, this knowledge allows for a first-hand understanding of the requirements associated with Annex 10, information and communication technologies (ICT), and the validation processes that new power plants must go through before starting operations.
"We have a very broad understanding of how the electrical grid operates in Mexico. We know the customer," he emphasized.
Mexican manufacturing as a competitive advantage
Siemens combines its expertise in the electrical system with significant industrial capacity in the country. The company has three manufacturing centers, a workshop in Mexico City, and a technology development center staffed by Mexican engineers , from which it produces a large portion of the equipment it sells in both Mexico and the United States.
This industrial capacity is complemented by Siemens' accumulated experience in more mature renewable energy markets. Bautista explained that the company aims to transfer to Mexico the knowledge acquired in photovoltaic and wind farms in Europe , both in electrical infrastructure and in control and automation systems, to support the growth of the new generation of projects.
"We don't just manufacture and sell; we are very focused on selling results, but always with customer support," he concluded.
Within this framework, Siemens' strategy rests on three pillars that the company considers central to the energy transition: digitalization, decentralization, and decarbonization. Through these capabilities, it seeks to support developers from feasibility studies to asset operation, with the goal of contributing to more resilient and efficient electricity grids.