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CNE has approved six strategic photovoltaic permits representing US$750 million in private investment, injecting 649MW of net capacity into the national grid. This Privados II milestone addresses surging industrial electricity demand driven by nearshoring, incorporating mandatory battery storage to reinforce grid reliability ahead of commercial operations in 2028 and 2029.
 
 
Mexico’s CNE has officially approved six strategic photovoltaic power generation permits representing a combined private investment of US$750 million. These vital infrastructure projects will inject 649MW of net capacity, alongside an installed alternating current capacity of 751MWac and an estimated annual generation of 1,881GWh, into the National Power System (SEN), with commercial operations slated for 2028 and 2029. This regulatory milestone marks a significant step forward under the Second Call for Proposals (Privados II), validating structured private-sector participation in meeting surging industrial electricity demand driven by nearshoring across Mexico.
The recent CNE authorizations underscore an evolving framework for private capital deployment in Mexico’s power sector, where private developers are directly scaling utility-scale renewable generation. Green Park Energy, a subsidiary of Cox, secured three permits covering sites in Aguascalientes, Jalisco, and Guanajuato. Meanwhile, Invex Controladora’s Ammper Generación captured two permits, highlighted by the Antares project in Tlaxcala as the single largest authorized facility, and Viva El Sol obtained one permit in Coahuila. These awards follow a rigorous selection process where only six out of 31 qualified applications met all compliance and technical criteria from an initial pool of 57 submissions. As detailed in coverage by Generation Secures Coverage, federal planning emphasizes expanding state and private generation capacity to secure industrial access, with generation initiatives representing over two-thirds of total energy-related investment allocations through 2030. The Privados II framework effectively demonstrates that capital availability is robust, shifting the primary industry focus toward rigorous operational execution and timely project delivery.
Beyond raw generation capacity, the newly authorized solar assets incorporate mandatory battery energy storage systems (BESS) totaling 204MW and approximately 628MWh, designed to mitigate intermittency and reinforce grid reliability. The projects span strategic industrial regions, with the Western Region absorbing 350MW, the Eastern Region adding 289MW, and the Northeastern Region incorporating 10MW. Industry analysts emphasize that incorporating advanced storage is vital for managing peak demand and avoiding costly industrial voltage spikes. As noted in assessments highlighted by CFE Infrastructure Expansion Assessment, expanding structural infrastructure and balancing intermittent solar technologies with intelligent storage solutions are essential prerequisites to prevent generation shortfalls and maintain uninterrupted power to high-density manufacturing clusters.
While the approval of US$750 million in solar permits provides much-needed capacity, structural challenges persist across Mexico’s transmission and distribution networks. Industrial hubs, particularly in regions experiencing massive nearshoring inflows, continue to test substation capacities and transmission lines. Market data indicates that over 60% of the national transmission network operates near maximum capacity, requiring close alignment with CFE’s ongoing infrastructure investments and modernization roadmaps. Insights explored in Energy Investment Insights point out that expanding grid infrastructure is the critical gating item for industrial parks and corporate end-users, noting that national manufacturing losses during major outage events underscore why reliability has become the ultimate binding constraint for enterprises evaluating Mexican operational sites. 

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