Mexico wind projects face interconnection bottleneck

The great challenge for wind energy in Mexico is interconnection between areas with high renewables potential and areas with high electricity consumption, said Michael Bax, CEO of Mexican power company Thermion, at MIREC energy week.

Bax gave as an example three substations in Tamaulipas, where Thermion has more than 700MW, which are currently saturated, making it impossible to add more capacity in the north of the state.

The executive also expressed skepticism that the 2017-2031 energy development program accurately reflects the time needed to add transmission capacity in Tamaulipas.

Panelists at the forum also noted their worries over indigenous consultations regarding new transmission lines.

According to Jakoba Mekler, director of Mexican energy company Asergen, maintained that until a law exists that creates legal certainty for consultations with indigenous communities, private companies will always have to operate under uncertainty regarding transmission projects.