Q: Barlovento Applus+ and Enertis Applus+ are the technical advisory arm of Applus+ Renewable Energy Unit. How does your specialized focus on renewables fit into Applus+ broader strategy in Mexico, which also includes a strong presence in the oil and gas sector?
A: Applus+ is a key player in Mexico’s oil, gas, and energy sectors, with a 25-year track record in the country. As Mexico advances its energy transition, renewable energy is becoming increasingly central to its strategy, supported by policy reforms and international commitments.
In this context, Applus+ is strongly committed to sustainability, offering highly specialized engineering, consulting, and quality control services across all stages of renewable energy and battery energy storage (BESS) projects. With more than 20 years of experience in Mexico, our expert, global Enertis Applus+ and Barlovento Applus+ technical advisory teams help clients ensure profitability, mitigate risks, and meet industry and quality standards.
Q: Enertis Applus+ and Barlovento Applus+ position themselves as independent technical advisors. Why is this independence so crucial for a consulting firm in Mexico’s energy market today, particularly for projects with complex financial models?
A: Independence is a key value for any technical advisor, and it is a cornerstone of the identity of both Enertis Applus+ and Barlovento Applus+.
Our teams provide unbiased assessments of the technical and financial risks associated with renewable energy and BESS projects. This impartial expertise is essential for developers, lenders and investors seeking a reliable partner to support informed decision-making, whether for securing project financing or in M&A transactions.
Q: Enertis Applus+ is a pioneer in using mobile laboratories for on-site testing and quality control of solar PV modules. How does this technology add value to clients and mitigate risks in the project lifecycle, from post-shipment to installation?
A: Common issues such as manufacturing defects, improper transportation or installation, and unexpected underperformance can significantly impact module reliability and performance. Implementing rigorous quality control measures is essential to reduce investment risks and enhance project reliability and return on investment.
PV modules are typically tested at the following key stages: at the factory, after shipment, post-installation and during operation. These tests help identify potential failures at any point in the supply chain.
Historically, modules were sent to conventional stationary laboratories for testing, a process that involved complex and risky logistics. If the modules were already in operation, they had to be uninstalled, cleaned, packed, and shipped to an accredited lab, often located far from the installation site. By the time the modules were tested and returned, production losses could occur, and the transportation risk could be blamed as the cause of detected defects.
To mitigate these risks, Enertis Applus+ developed the PV Mobile Laboratory (PVML), which travels directly to solar projects to perform on-site testing. Equipped with a class A+A+A+ solar simulator, the PVML delivers the same accredited testing standards as fixed laboratories, but with greater efficiency and minimal disruption.
The PVML can be used for routine testing every one to two years, a practice that is becoming standard to verify module performance against manufacturer warranties. Ongoing testing also supports performance diagnostics and due diligence during the acquisition, sale, or refinancing of solar PV plants. The PVML is available in Mexico, but also in Europe, Chile, Brazil, and Australia.
Q: The industry is increasingly using digital tools for project management. How does Enertis Applus+ leverage digital platforms and data analytics to provide more accurate and timely insights to its clients?
A: In line with our commitment to R&D and innovation and our mission of providing the best service for our clients, we have developed a series of innovative data science and machine learning tools (ML) that provide efficient analysis and data management for our clients’ solar PV projects.
Our Advanced Performance Analytics Application (A-PAA) tool enables our technical experts to perform a faster, more detailed analysis of the long-term performance of solar PV assets. A-PAA provides unique insights using Machine Learning and Data Science techniques and supports our consultants’ analysis to detect underperformance and to protect the present and future value of the assets.
In addition, our Enertis Applus+ Soiling and Snow Application (TESSA) provides accurate estimation of the annual power loss due to dirt, snow, and/or other particle accumulation on the surface of solar PV modules.
Finally, our Smart PV Inspection Tool combines drones and AI models to develop precision diagnostics of solar PV modules installed in a solar PV plant. This data provides our technical experts with more information to assess the health of this critical equipment.
The Smart PV Inspection Tool includes interactive images of the PV plant, enabling our experts to analyze specific areas of the project at different levels of detail to identify defects that may cause underperformance.
Q: Your company emphasizes providing services across the entire project lifecycle. At what stage do you see clients needing your assistance the most today, and why?
A: With PLADESE and the announcement of several gigawatts of renewable energy intended to be installed, the sector in Mexico has gained strong momentum, and project developments that were halted have begun to resume their pace. We are supporting our clients in all technologies (wind, solar, and BESS) during all phases, but if I had to highlight some of our services where we are more present or where service requests are more recurring, they would be the following:
Consulting, both in terms of technical due diligence reports for project acquisition, sale, or financing, as well as wind and solar resource studies
Installation of met masts and LiDAR for solar and wind projects
Studies for CENACE: annexes III and IV, study of installations
Preparation of terms of reference for tenders (EPC, TSA,…), support during the bidding and contract process
Pre-feasibility studies
Engineering design and construction supervision
Q: New regulations for renewable energy projects require the integration of BESS. How are you helping clients navigate these new requirements, from initial design to final implementation?
A: Our expert teams support developers, investors, and lenders throughout the entire project lifecycle, from initial design to final implementation, by offering a comprehensive suite of consulting, engineering, and quality control services. These services are designed to ensure regulatory compliance, optimal performance, and project bankability.
At Enertis Applus+, we developed our own tool (SIMUBATT+) that allows us to perform detailed technical-economic analyses to evaluate the viability and optimal design of these types of hybridizations. In essence, based on the specific characteristics of each project: available resource, site restrictions and usable space, connection typology and associated consumption profile, among many other technical and economic variables, SIMUBATT+ helps us determine the optimal combination of technologies to reduce generation costs and maximize the profitability of the system.
Our key quality assurance and quality control (QAQC) offerings include bankability reports for BESS equipment suppliers, supply chain traceability, as well as manufacturing oversight, pre-shipment inspections, and factory acceptance testing (FAT) witnessing.
In addition, we assist clients with conceptual, basic, and detailed engineering, as well as Owner’s Engineering services to deliver reliable, bankable and compliant BESS solutions.
We also act as independent technical advisors for BESS-related financing and M&A transactions, and we provide construction monitoring to ensure quality and adherence to project specifications.
Q: What are the key technical and financial challenges you see in deploying BESS solutions in Mexico today?
A: Based on our experience in more advanced storage systems markets, such as Chile, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Spain, etc., where we have already seen real projects built, these are some of the key technical and financial challenges we can identify.
First, the absence of a specific regulatory framework for energy storage systems creates uncertainty for developers and investors seeking clarity on operational and interconnection aspects. The technical studies required by CENACE still do not fully contemplate the particular characteristics of BESS, which complicates the interconnection process. The lack of specific incentive schemes for energy storage also increases the complexity of determining the end use of the battery, as it is very complicated to carry out a business model with certainty.
Defining the use of the battery system before launching a tender is key. In BESS systems, the parameter called C RATE is very important, which is the speed at which a battery charges or discharges. A battery with a low C rate (0.25-4 hours) is more focused on energy, for arbitrage; and a C rate is oriented to power and a quick response. If we do not size correctly, overheat is generated and the battery system can degrade more quickly.
Clarity regarding the contractual scheme is also necessary, be it full EPC, multiple contracting, or partial EPC. Mexican financial institutions still have limited experience in evaluating BESS projects, which results in less favorable financing conditions.
These challenges, while significant, also represent opportunities for experienced companies as Enertis Applus+ that can offer comprehensive solutions adapted to the Mexican context.
Q: What are Enertis Applus+ and Barlovento Applus+ key strategic objectives for the Mexican renewable energy market for 2026?
A: As an independent consulting and engineering firm with over 25 years of experience in the Mexican market, our key strategic objectives for the remainder of 2025 and into 2026 focus on:
Consolidating and strengthening our position as trusted technical advisors on wind and solar projects, as well as for the growing BESS market in Mexico, particularly following the PLADESE development plan implementation that has revitalized renewable energy projects across the country.
Expanding our services in hybrid renewable systems, where our expertise in technical due diligence, engineering, and project supervision provides unique value.
Supporting developers and financial institutions with comprehensive technical consulting throughout the project lifecycle, from resource assessment studies and technical specifications for tenders to owner’s engineering.
Building local capabilities and knowledge transfer to strengthen the Mexican renewable energy sector.
Leveraging our global experience to address the specific technical and regulatory challenges facing renewable projects in Mexico, particularly regarding CENACE requirements and grid connection studies.
Our strategy is centered on providing comprehensive, technically rigorous, and independent services that address the specific challenges of the Mexican renewable energy landscape while helping our clients maximize project performance and return on investment.
Applus+ has established the Renewable Energy Unit by bringing together Barlovento Applus+ and Enertis Applus+. This team, a global benchmark in the renewable energy sector, provides consulting, engineering, and quality control services for renewable energy and BESS projects across the world and in Mexico.
Barlovento Applus+ and Enertis Applus+ have a significant presence in the country, working on solar, wind, and energy storage projects.
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