The Ministry of Energy (SENER) extended the deadlines for the second call for priority attention to generation and interconnection permits to the National Electric System, which not only modifies the regulatory schedule, but also reconfigures the competitive landscape for private developers.
The official adjustment published on May 26 in the Official Gazette of the Federation postpones key milestones in the process, from the registration of expressions of interest to the issuance of permits, in a move that the Government justifies by the strong market interest in participating.
The new schedule sets the registration at the Single Window for Electrical Permits (VUPE) between May 13 and 29, the submission of applications to the National Energy Commission (CNE) from June 16 to July 15, the publication of results on August 24 and the notification of permits on August 25.
Originally, the deadline contemplated a shorter window, which had raised concerns among developers about the technical time needed to structure competitive proposals.
“Due to the interest shown by the participants and with the purpose of encouraging greater participation in the Call for Proposals, it is considered appropriate to modify the dates and deadlines planned,” argued the Secretary of Energy , Luz Elena González Escobar , in the considerations of the published agreement.
It is worth remembering that the second call allows the participation of both independent private developers and projects under a mixed scheme, in association with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), a flexibility that expands the universe of competitors and explains part of the strong interest that motivated the modification of the schedule.
Relive FES Mexico here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS8Rf8Zo4D4
First round still open and competition increasing: How are the energy companies positioning themselves?
The postponement of the second call comes as the market remains attentive to the outcome of the first mixed round for 7500 MW, results of which are expected on June 1.
Currently, 40 companies remain in the running within the mixed projects process promoted together with CFE , after the initial filter that left out several participants.
This data is key because it allows us to understand the level of competitiveness that the next regulatory window will face. This isn't a market still under construction, but one that has already begun to establish winners, laggards, and new entry strategies.
Furthermore, the new timeframe opens up space not only to reorganize business strategies, but also to resolve one of the main bottlenecks in the process: the technical capacity to complete studies, engineering and regulatory annexes.
Genux Power , which already secured a project in the first round of priority projects for private companies, takes a pragmatic approach. Patricia Tatto , the company's CEO, anticipated at FES Mexico that the company would compete again.
“We were awarded a project in the call for priority projects in Mérida, Yucatán. It is the Panamá project. It is a 252 MW wind power project with 4 hours of storage,” the executive stated.
“We’re going to jump into the second one, and there are already engineering departments that are saturated, that aren’t even taking orders to do annexes three and four anymore,” Tatto added, reflecting a widespread concern among participants.
Another player that appears to be well-positioned is Invenergy , one of the most active participants in the process so far. The US firm maintains a presence in at least six projects distributed across the northeast, Baja California, Baja California Sur, and the western part of the country, establishing itself as one of the most commercially aggressive developers under the new model.
From FES Mexico, Ignacio Castro , VP International Business Development of Invenergy, made the company's priorities clear.
“We found a unique solution through mixed schemes. We didn't participate in the first call for priority projects because we weren't fully aware of the requirements. The major challenge we all face as a sector, as a public policy, and as developers, is finding ways to incentivize the growth of the wholesale electricity market so that new projects can be developed,” Castro stated.
Other players who actively participated in the sector debate at FES Mexico also anticipate moves in the upcoming rounds. At AES Mexico , the focus is on hybrid portfolios capable of responding to the new needs of the electricity system, particularly in terms of flexibility and backup power.
“We are very excited to participate in the calls launched by the government and we have several projects that we want to bring to fruition,” acknowledged Adalberto García , CEO of the company, before more than 400 leaders of the Mexican market.
AES had already shown interest in the mixed scheme, submitting a bid for 1558 MW . However, they did not move forward in the process.
In that process, some companies with a visible presence in the sector debate — such as Vive Energía, Valia Energía or EDF itself on certain fronts — failed to advance in certain stages, reflecting the level of technical and regulatory requirements of the new scheme.
SENER's decision, then, not only extends administrative deadlines: it redefines the competitive timing of the market. For some developers, the extra time means completing engineering work or adjusting documentation; for others, it represents the opportunity to restructure partnerships, strengthen hybrid proposals, or even enter processes that initially seemed too tight.
With the results of the first call expected on June 1, the Mexican market now enters a new phase: less marked by the regulatory announcement and more by the real execution capacity of private companies.
Relive FES Mexico here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS8Rf8Zo4D4