ACCIONA Energía has been awarded the supply of 585.7 gigawatt hours (GWh) of renewable electricity in the first long-term power auction in the wholesale electric power market organized by the National Energy Control Center (CENACE) of Mexico. This will be materialized in a 168 megawatt (MW) wind farm in the State of Tamaulipas that will enter service in 2018.
ACCIONA Energía currently owns and operates 556.5 MW in Mexico, with four wind farms in Oaxaca that account for around 20% of the operational wind power capacity in the country, and has built another 303 MW for customers. The result of the latest auction strengthens the company's presence in Mexico as one of the main players in the renewables market there.
The El Cortijo wind power project, whose production was awarded together with the corresponding Clean Energy Certificates (CEL), will be located 40 kilometers south of the city of Reynosa. It will consist of fifty-six 3 MW ACCIONA Windpower turbines that will generate electricity equivalent to the consumption of around 350,000 homes in the area, avoiding the emission of more than 563,000 metric tons of CO2 to the atmosphere from conventional coal-fired power stations.
Construction work is planned to start in 2017, with the wind farm coming on stream by mid-2018. The energy produced will be supplied to the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) under a long-term contract (15 years).
"ACCIONA has once again demonstrated that its energy solutions are not just environmentally sustainable but also very competitive by winning a major contract in the first energy auction organized in Mexico. The competition was strong and this will enable us to consolidate our leadership in the Mexican wind power sector," ACCIONA Energía CEO Rafael Mateo stated recently.
More than 200 bids from 69 tenderers
This first auction, in which 227 bids were received from 69 tenderers, awarded a total of 5,385.72 GWh to 11 bids from 7 tenderers. It is part of an initiative by the Mexican authorities to integrate renewable energies into the country's electric power system following an Energy Reform in 2013. Between 2015 and 2018 the Mexican government plans to incorporate 6 GW of renewable origin with an estimated investment of 14 billion US dollars, and the Government's commitment is to generate around 35% of the nation's electricity consumption from renewables by 2024, with a forecast 12 GW from wind power and 3 GW from photovoltaic energy.
As well as the new projects awarded, ACCIONA Energía works on developments for itself and its customers in Mexico, totaling several hundred additional MW. Last year the company signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Mexican Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) to promote the development of joint projects for the generation of electricity from renewable sources in the country.
About us
ACCIONA Energía is a global operator in renewable energies with over 20 years' experience in the sector. It owns and operates 220 wind farms totaling 7,210 MW; 79 hydro plants (888 MW); 6 CSP plants (314 MW); photovoltaic plants totaling 143 MWp and three biomass plants (61 MW). The company develops projects for third-party customers in wind and photovoltaic power, produces wind turbines using in-house technology and sells power to major customers www.acciona-energia.es
Its belongs to ACCIONA a leading group in sustainable solutions for infrastructures and renewable energy projects worldwide. Its range of services covers the entire value chain of design, construction, operation and maintenance. The company posted revenues of 6,500 million euros in 2015, has a presence in over 30 countries and carries out its business activity with a commitment to contribute to the economic growth and social welfare of the communities it operates in. ACCIONA's objective is to lead the transition to a low-carbon economy and applies quality criteria and innovation processes in all its projects with the aim of optimizing the efficient use of resources and care for the environment.
