Mexico closed the registration period for strategic renewable energy generation projects on September 2nd for the call for bids that offers more than 6 GW of new solar and wind capacity. This call now initiates a series of technical analyses, interconnection studies, and evaluations before selecting the projects that will be eligible to move forward. It's worth noting that companies can participate either privately or in partnership with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE).
According to information gathered by Energía Estratégica , Terralia, Cox, Atlas Renewable Energy, AES, Invenergy and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) are participating in this new pre-selection round.
Industry sources consulted by this publication also indicate activity by Polaris, Atlántica, and GEMEX regarding the current processes. Specifically, the first two are pursuing opportunities related to the mixed-use development model, while GEMEX appears among the developers with expectations of achieving favorable results.
It is also possible that some of the big winners of the first mixed tender will participate again in the current processes. Cúbico Sustainable Investments and Thermion Energy were among the most significant players in that tender: Thermion secured more than 1,500 MW, while Cúbico won several projects and was among the top recipients.
Meanwhile, Genux is also beginning to establish a presence in Mexico's new renewable energy landscape. The joint venture between Exus Management Partners and Glencore recently won the Lagartija and Ocelote photovoltaic projects, totaling 201 MWp in the State of Mexico, which will incorporate battery storage systems . Both initiatives are expected to mobilize around $165 million and generate approximately 490 GWh annually.
One of the largest-scale projects known to date involves Terralia . Ricardo Hurtado González, the company's CEO, revealed to Energía Estratégica that the developer presented a 2,400 MW portfolio, comprised of 1,800 MW of photovoltaic and 600 MW of wind power .
The scale of the process is reflected in the map published by the authorities. The Energy Window (Ventanilla de Energía) publishes a Reference Capacity Required for the Strategic Projects Call for Proposals of 3,995 MW of generation , comprised of 2,955 MW of photovoltaic and 1,040 MW of wind power . The National Interconnected System (Sistema Interconnected Nacional) has a capacity of 3,589 MW , divided between 2,549 MW of photovoltaic and 1,040 MW of wind power. An additional 226 MW of solar power in Baja California and 180 MW of photovoltaic power in Baja California Sur complete the 3,995 MW.
However, months ago, the Ministry of Energy (SENER) reported that there were still 6,754 MW of renewable energy to be allocated during 2026 , made up of 4,595 MW of photovoltaic and solar thermal energy and 2,159 MW of wind power , considering the different private mechanisms and partnership schemes with CFE.
“ The goal is to have all the new plants that are required assigned this year ,” says Luz Elena González , Secretary of Energy.
The call introduces a key variable for developers and investors: new renewable energy plants must incorporate storage equivalent to at least 30% of their capacity and with a duration of three hours.
When might the results be available?
With registration now closed, the next milestone for the market will be October 12, the date scheduled for the closing of the evaluation and definition process for the projects , so in just over a month it could become clear how the new capacity is distributed among the participants.
Until then, the proposals must go through an abbreviated sequence of administrative review, technical analysis, and interconnection studies . The procedure first involves validating the applications and addressing any potential issues; subsequently, CFE and the National Energy Control Center (CENACE) intervene, analyzing the connection and interconnection conditions and associated costs.
Once these steps are completed, the developers must accept the costs of the Reinforcement and Interconnection Works , after which the corresponding technical review will proceed. The regulations stipulate that the stages are sequential, so the progress of each project depends on the completion of the previous step.
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Thus, between the closing of applications on September 2nd and the decision scheduled for October 12th, approximately 40 days will pass , a period in which the authorities must filter the initiatives that actually meet the binding technical and planning conditions.
Storage keeps the race open for 935 MW
The exception to the September 2nd deadline is the specific call for proposals for Electrical Energy Storage Systems (SAEE) . SENER decided to extend the project registration period until October 30, 2026 .
The reference includes 935 MW with three hours of storage , distributed among different regions of the National Electric System. The North region accounts for 245 MW; the East, 180 MW; the Northwest, 160 MW; Baja California and the Peninsular region, 140 MW each; Baja California Sur, 50 MW; and the West, 20 MW.
According to the authority, the extension of the deadline aims to encourage participation, strengthen technical analysis, optimize costs for individuals, and promote administrative efficiency .
This creates two different timelines for the market: generation has already entered the evaluation stage , while specific storage projects will still have almost two additional months to be incorporated.
Background: More than 3 GW private and 8 GW mixed projects with CFE awarded
The new round comes after a first experience that provided a concrete benchmark. In December 2025, Mexico awarded more than 3 GW of renewable capacity and 1,257.4 MW of storage to 14 companies in the first priority generation process for private companies.
In total, 20 projects were initially selected , although two applicants subsequently withdrew, according to the regulatory body.
Market appetite was also evident in the mixed scheme with CFE. The first major call for proposals under this model received more than 200 initiatives and nearly 38 GW under evaluation , compared to a significantly lower initial requirement. Subsequently, 38 projects from 31 developers were selected, with a total generation capacity of 8,025 MW and more than 2,500 MW of storage, representing a total investment of US$10.6 billion, according to figures highlighted by Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum during her final State of the City address.
This precedent suggests that competition for the capacity currently available will once again be fierce . For Terralia, Cox, Atlas Renewable Energy, AES, Atlántica GEMEX, Genux, Invenergy, CIP, and the other participants, the focus is no longer on submitting projects, but on passing the technical and regulatory filters that will determine which initiatives move forward.
The market is thus entering a stage of defining moments. With the generation registration period closed since September 2nd and the first resolutions expected during October, the coming weeks will reveal how much of the 6,754 MW of renewable energy that SENER identified as pending allocation is actually beginning to take shape.
The question is not only the volume that will be selected, but also which companies, technologies, and regions will be the focus of Mexico's new electricity expansion . Experience from previous bidding rounds shows that private interest far exceeds the immediate needs of the system, increasing competition for interconnection points and projects best aligned with binding planning.
Meanwhile, the 935 MW storage process will remain open until October 30 , so the last quarter of the year will focus on decisions for both generation and batteries.