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State power utility CFE has passed 27% physical progress on Sequence III of the 1,000MW Puerto Peñasco solar plant in Sonora, marking a key milestone in Mexico’s public renewable energy strategy. The project incorporates specialized post-piling infrastructure to support 563,000 solar panels and integrate 246MW of total battery energy storage (BESS) into the National Electrical System (SEN). This buildout directly impacts power generation providers, industrial consumers, and grid equipment manufacturers as Mexico expands utility-scale solar and storage capacity to improve regional grid stability.
 
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CFE has advanced construction on Sequence III of the 1GW Rafael Galván Maldonado Photovoltaic Plant in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, achieving a physical progress rate exceeding 27%. The project is expected to begin commercial operations by late 2027.
According to CFE, Sequence III will add 300MW of capacity to Mexico’s National Electrical System (SEN), targeting commercial operation by the end of 2027. The first two sequences of the solar complex are currently in commercial operation, contributing a combined 420MW to the grid.
The current construction milestone involves installing structural mounting posts in the Transformation Center 2 (CT-2) area. Using percussion and pressure machinery, steel profiles are buried over 2m deep to create the foundation for approximately 563,000 solar panels. In total, the project requires the installation of 84,182 steel posts. The work is being conducted by specialized crews using 4 Pauselli 900 piling rigs equipped with positioning and alignment control systems, CFE notes.
CFE highlighted that post-driving is widely used in utility-scale solar developments due to its speed, structural load capacity, wind resistance, and adaptability to terrain topography. From an environmental standpoint, the method avoids extensive excavation and permanent concrete foundations, preventing soil chemical alteration and leaving no concrete debris, which simplifies eventual site decommissioning at the end of the plant’s operational lifecycle.
Battery Storage and Grid Stability
Alongside photovoltaic infrastructure, CFE is deploying Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) at the Puerto Peñasco site to balance electricity supply and demand in real time. The first two operational phases currently provide 72MW of BESS capacity to the SEN. Constructing Sequences III and IV will add 174MW of storage, bringing total site storage capacity to 246MW with two to three hours of discharge autonomy, as reported by MBN.
The BESS units absorb surplus solar generation during peak production hours and release electricity during evening demand spikes or periods of reduced solar irradiance. Beyond load balancing, the storage infrastructure optimizes transmission line and substation utilization, improves grid responsiveness during contingencies, and reduces ancillary-service costs. The Puerto Peñasco facility also includes a synchronous condenser to stabilize system voltage and improve power factor.
National Expansion and Capital Allocation Strategy
The battery-integrated expansion at Puerto Peñasco reflects broader federal targets outlined under the National Electrical System Expansion Plan 2025–2030. During the First CFE Investor Meeting 2026 at the National Museum of Energy and Technology (MUNET), CFE detailed a US$37.5 billion capital expenditure roadmap aimed at expanding power generation and transmission nationwide.
To finance this buildout, CFE is leveraging capital markets alongside Mixed Development Schemes, which awarded 8,025MW across more than 30 projects in its initial tender. Under updated federal guidelines, newly awarded renewable projects must co-locate battery storage equal to at least 30% of capacity with a minimum three-hour discharge duration to alleviate regional grid constraints. In transmission, CFE has allocated US$6.9 billion toward 154 grid projects through 2030, utilizing vehicles like CFE Fibra E to expand line capacity across key industrial corridors.

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