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| Fig. 1: A wind farm used by Walmart in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. (Source: Wikimedia Commons). |
Renewable energy and clean fuel sources contribute to approximately 26% of the electricity generation of Mexico. [1] The four main sources for Mexico's renewable energy are hydroelectric, geothermal, solar, and wind power, and the nation is attempting to decrease dependence on fossil fuels by switching to renewable energy sources in the future.
In 2012, Mexico passed groundbreaking climate change legislation that committed the country to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30% in 2020 and 50% by 2050. [1] In addition, Mexico committed to at least 35% of its energy coming from renewable sources by 2024. It also required mandatory emissions reports from the country's largest polluters. Mexico also rebranded its National Institute of Ecology (INE) to combat the growing threat of climate change, and created a commission to implement the provisions of their climate change resolution. This year, the Mexican government launched a wholesale electricity market, and held auctions in which companies made bids to sell renewable energy to state-owned utilities. [2]
In solar energy, Mexico has an incredible amount of untapped potential. As such, Mexico has dramatically increased its solar power capabilities since 2000. In wind energy, Mexico, as of 2015, had accumulated 3,073 MW of wind power due to energy reform. [3] There are currently 31 wind farms in the country, such as the one pictured in Oaxaca, up from only 3 in 2008. This includes the Eurus Wind Farm, which is the largest of its kind in Latin America.
© Nikhil Basutkar. The author grants permission to copy, distribute and display this work in unaltered form, with attribution to the author, for noncommercial purposes only. All other rights, including commercial rights, are reserved to the author.
[1] "Renewable Energy Factsheet," U.S. Embassy, Mexico City, January 2013.
[2] A. Harrup, "Mexico Awards Contracts to Secure Renewable Energy," Wall Street Journal, 28 Sep 16.
[3] "Global Wind Report: Annual Market Update 2015," Global Wind Energy Council, 2015.
