With 7400 MW already awarded in the first call for mixed schemes promoted by the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and the Ministry of Energy (SENER), and a new tender underway that seeks to allocate approximately 6 GW additional with commercial operation (COD) dates between 2027 and 2029 , the photovoltaic industry is beginning to prepare for the next stage: the execution of the projects.
In that context, Miguel Covarrubias , Sales Director for Latin America at Jinko Solar , says that the Mexican market does not yet reflect an increase in the effective demand for modules, but it does register a change that historically precedes the closing of deals.
"Demand is still somewhat flat today. We are seeing a considerable increase in the price due to market movement, which is generally a phase prior to that demand being triggered," Covarrubias stated.
"We believe that between now and the end of this year, and into next year, that additional price will translate into additional demand," he added.
According to him, this process will result in the first deliveries between the end of this year and the beginning of 2027 , while the projects would begin to come online during the third quarter of 2027 .
"We're going to talk in 2027 about a much more realistic demand, with projects that are operational or already a little more completed," the executive stated.
It's worth noting that the Ministry of Energy (SENER) aims to add approximately 4,500 MW of new photovoltaic capacity this year through calls for bids for mixed and private generation projects, which for the first time require the inclusion of at least 30% battery storage capacity. In addition, there is a specific call for bids for battery energy storage systems (BESS), marking a paradigm shift in the planning of the Mexican electricity system and opening a new market for manufacturers and technology providers.
In that context, Jinko Solar seeks to position itself not only as a supplier of photovoltaic modules, but also in the energy storage business .
“Jinko understood this a long time ago, which is why we already have an entire battery business line. There’s no way to have a renewable energy matrix, especially solar, without a form of storage,” said Alberto Cuter, executive vice president of Jinko Solar, at FES Guatemala.
Beyond the increase in prices, Jinko maintains that the new investment cycle also changes the demands placed on suppliers. The challenge is no longer just having modules available, but guaranteeing supply capacity, delivery times, and technical support to accompany projects that will have to meet increasingly tight construction schedules until 2029.
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From awards to supply
Covarrubias's statements come at a time when Mexico is experiencing the largest reactivation of renewable energy projects since the electricity reform .
The first call under the mixed scheme already allowed the awarding of 7,410 MW distributed in 37 projects , which will be developed by 31 private companies in association with the CFE.
To that volume is now added a new call for proposals from SENER , which seeks to incorporate approximately 6 GW of additional renewable generation capacity this year. The projects must align with the electrical system's planning and will have staggered commercial operation dates (COD) between 2027 and the first half of 2029 , depending on the region and technology.
According to Jinko, it is precisely this pipeline that is beginning to be reflected in the increase in business inquiries that the market receives.
Faced with this scenario, Jinko Solar seeks to capitalize on its presence in Mexico during the years of slower growth. For Covarrubias, having maintained a local team and business relationships in the country will be a differentiating factor when the awarded projects begin to require modules, logistics, and technical support.
“We never left Mexico even though it experienced a considerable decline,” Covarrubias stated.
Although the largest volume will be associated with utility projects, the company is also closely looking at the self-consumption and supply segment, especially in initiatives up to 20 MW.
The company enters this new phase backed by a consolidated global presence. Jinko has sold over 400 GW of solar panels worldwide , while its Tiger Neo module family has grown from 11 GW to 300 GW of cumulative shipments in just five years , making it one of the fastest-growing photovoltaic platforms in the industry.
Along those lines, Covarrubias highlighted the evolution of the Tiger Neo family, whose TOPCon technology already achieves efficiencies close to 25%.
“We went from a module in the same dimensions of a 620 to a 650 or 670 W, depending on the supply dates, which is an important optimization not only in power but also in energy,” the executive explained.
Looking ahead to the next five years, Jinko aims to transfer to the Mexican market the market share it already holds at the regional level.
“One out of every three modules sold in Latin America is Jinko. We would aim for that same percentage in Mexico,” the company representative concluded.