Sustainability has become a priority in Mexico, and renewable energy offers a viable and necessary solution to address today’s energy challenges. With its geographical diversity and abundant natural resources, Mexico holds immense potential for transitioning to cleaner energy sources.
What is renewable energy?
Renewable energy comes from inexhaustible natural sources or those that can regenerate continuously. Unlike non-renewable energy, renewable sources reduce harmful emissions, making them a cleaner and more sustainable alternative. Examples include solar energy, wind power, water, geothermal heat, and biomass. Today, renewable energy is more cost-effective in many countries and generates more jobs than fossil fuels.
Definition and types of renewable energy
Renewable energy is expected to become the most cost-effective source of electricity, driving global economic development. The main types of renewable energy are:
- Solar energy: Harnesses solar radiation to produce electricity or heat via photovoltaic panels and concentrated solar power systems.
- Wind energy: Captures wind’s kinetic energy through turbines to generate electricity.
- Geothermal energy: Extracts heat from the Earth’s interior for energy production or heating.
- Hydropower: Uses water movement in rivers, dams, or natural currents to produce electricity.
- Biomass: is energy from organic materials like agricultural waste, wood, or solid residues.
Benefits of renewable energy
The shift to renewable energy addresses environmental needs while delivering significant economic and social advantages.
Positive environmental impact
Renewable energy greatly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, the primary contributors to climate change. It also minimizes air and water pollution, preserves ecosystems, and improves quality of life.
Key environmental benefits:
- Reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
- Low water usage during operations.
- Decreased dependence on extractive industries and fossil fuels.
- Elimination of problematic waste and nuclear residues.
- Less need for large hydroelectric projects, avoiding associated flooding and erosion.
Economic advantages
While initial investments may be high, renewable energy offers long-term savings due to lower operational costs. It also fosters energy independence by reducing reliance on fossil fuel imports. Economic benefits include:
- Lower costs: Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, have significantly dropped in price, making electricity more affordable. By 2030, renewable electricity could supply 65% of the world’s energy needs.
- Health improvements: The number of pollution-related diseases is minimized. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 99% of the global population breathes air that does not meet adequate quality standards and poses a risk to their health. Around 13 million deaths worldwide are linked to harmful environmental conditions, such as air pollution. The transition to clean energy sources, such as solar and wind power, significantly improves public health. According to the, 99% of people worldwide breathe polluted air, leading to millions of deaths. Clean energy like solar and wind energy improves public health.
- Job creation: The focus on renewable energy generates new jobs due to the demand for a skilled workforce in the energy sector. By 2030, around 14 million new jobs will be created in clean energy production. Additionally, indirect jobs are boosted in agriculture, livestock, poultry, commerce, and services.
Renewable Resources in Mexico
In recent years, Mexico has focused on investing in renewable energy and green projects. Evidence of this is Mexico’s emergence as a leader in photovoltaic solar energy production, with a 533% increase from 2018 to 2022, according to the Clean Energy Progress Report by the National Electric System Development Program (PRODESEN). It is estimated that electricity generated from wind and solar energy will continue to double over the years, supporting the decarbonization of this industry. In 2024, government plans were launched to promote renewable energy, including a tender for drilling four geothermal wells.
Mexico has enormous potential to lead the transition to renewable energy generation. This is due to its high solar exposure, variety of water resources ideal for small hydropower plants, availability of steam and water for developing geothermal fields, vast regions with consistent and strong winds, large amount of agricultural waste, and significant volume of organic waste in both urban and rural areas.
In November 2022, during the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Government of Mexico committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030 as part of its path toward an effective energy transition.
Solar energy: Among all energy sources, solar energy is the most
abundant on the planet. These technologies convert sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic panels or mirrors that concentrate solar radiation. Solar energy can generate heat, cooling, natural light, electricity, and even fuels for various applications. While sunlight availability varies across countries, solar energy can be effectively harnessed almost anywhere in the world as an integral part of the energy mix. In recent years, the cost of manufacturing solar panels has decreased, making these methods of electricity generation more affordable. Today, solar parks are becoming increasingly efficient.
Wind Energy:
Wind energy harnesses the kinetic force of the wind through large turbines installed on land, offshore, or in freshwater areas. While this energy source has been used since ancient times, modern technologies have advanced significantly in recent decades, with taller turbines and larger-diameter rotors allowing more efficient electricity generation. Some of the main areas in Mexico with the highest wind potential (with power levels of 100 W/m2 or more) include the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, the northwest of Quintana Roo, the central-southern region of Zacatecas, and the northwest of the Valley of Mexico.
While wind speeds vary considerably depending on geographic location, the global technical potential of wind energy exceeds current electricity production. This resource has enormous room for expansion in most regions of the world. Strong and consistent winds are ideal for energy generation in many parts of the planet. However, the best locations to harness this energy are often found in remote areas. According to the 2019 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency, wind energy was, at that time, the second-largest renewable energy source in global production and continues to grow.
Geothermal energy:
Geothermal energy harnesses the heat stored within the Earth. This heat is extracted through wells or other methods from geothermal deposits. When these deposits have sufficiently high temperatures and are naturally permeable, they are called hydrothermal deposits. On the other hand, those with high temperatures that require hydraulic stimulation are known as enhanced geothermal systems.
Once extracted, the heat is used through fluids at various temperatures to generate electricity. This technology, which allows for energy production from geothermal deposits, is a mature and reliable solution with over a century of proven use. As a clean and consistent energy source, geothermal energy is an important alternative for the environment, as its emissions are much lower than those of fossil fuels.
Hydroelectric Energy:
Hydroelectric energy is generated from the movement of water, either through its fall or steep flows. In addition to producing energy, hydroelectric reservoirs have multiple applications, such as supplying drinking water, agricultural irrigation, flood and drought control, and navigation. Hydroelectric energy is the largest renewable energy source in the global electricity sector today. Its generation depends on relatively stable rainfall patterns but can be affected by droughts linked to climate change and changes in ecosystems that alter precipitation cycles.
According to the 2022 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency, the installed capacity of hydroelectric plants worldwide reaches 1,392 GW, representing approximately 38% of total renewable energy generation. Current technologies allow nearly 90% of the energy in water to be converted into electricity—an efficiency almost three times higher than that of conventional sources.
It is important to highlight Mexico’s hydroelectric potential. However, its use is limited and concentrated mainly in the southern part of the country, where water resources are more abundant. The use of this energy for public services is virtually nonexistent.
Challenges in Implementation
Investment and Technology
Oscar García, Growth Director at Enlight, a Mexican company specializing in renewable energy solutions, mentions that in Mexico, several factors favor the generation of photovoltaic energy in the industrial sector. One of the main factors is that the country’s electricity generation system is facing growing pressure due to high demand. Additionally, this centralized system and an insufficient transmission network limit its capacity. As a result, it is essential to opt for more efficient and cost-effective energy sources. Solar energy presents itself as a suitable solution for the needs of the industry.
Developing renewable energy projects requires significant initial investments in infrastructure and advanced technology. Although costs have decreased recently, many projects still depend on government incentives and private financing to be viable.
Policies and Incentives
Regulation and public policies are key to the development of renewable energy. The government must implement measures to encourage investment in sustainable projects, such as tax incentives and subsidies. Furthermore, collaboration between the public and private sectors will be crucial to overcoming existing barriers.
Awareness and Education
The adoption of renewable energy also depends on society’s acceptance and understanding. Communities must be educated about the benefits of these technologies and their positive impact on the environment and the local economy.
Renewable energies represent the future of energy sustainability in Mexico and the world. With abundant resources and immense potential, the country has the opportunity to lead the transition to a cleaner and more efficient energy model.
However, achieving this goal requires addressing challenges such as investment in technology, modernizing infrastructure, and creating policies that drive sustainable development. With the commitment of all sectors, Mexico can become a global leader in renewable energy, ensuring a prosperous future for generations to come.
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