ACCIONA signs first contract for the sale of renewable energy resulting from Mexico’s energy reforms

ACCIONA Energía has signed its first contract with Mexico’s Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) for the delivery of renewable power and clean energy certificates resulting from the energy auctions introduced by Mexico’s energy reforms.

The contract covers the annual supply of 585.7 gigawatt-hours (GWh), which was awarded to ACCIONA in the first auction for long-term energy delivery in the wholesale electricity market that was organized by the Mexican National Energy Control Center (CENACE) in March.  ACCIONA Energía will build a 168 megawatt (MW) wind farm in the State of Tamaulipas to supply the renewable power allocated at the March auction. The wind farm will enter into service in 2018.

Under the contract, Mexico’s Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) will purchase the power from ACCIONA’s new wind farm for a period of 15 years.

“We are proud that ACCIONA is one of the first companies to sign a purchase and sale contract for energy and clean energy certificates in the framework of the auction system established by the Mexican energy reform. This system creates good prospects for the development of renewables in the country, and we in ACCIONA will continue to work actively towards this objective,” Miguel Angel Alonso, Director of ACCIONA Energía Mexico, said.

Construction work at the new wind farm, at El Cortijo, 40 km south of Reynosa, is expected to begin toward the end of the year, with entry into service planned for mid-2018. Once operational, it will generate enough clean electricity to power 350,000 Mexican homes, and avoid the emission of 563,000 metric tons of CO2 per year.

Mexico’s leading wind power operator

ACCIONA Energía is Mexico’s leading wind power developer and operator, with 556.5 MW at four Oaxaca wind farms that account for 18% of the country’s operational wind power capacity. ACCIONA has also built 302 MW for clients (252 MW in Nuevo León and 50 MW in Oaxaca).

The company has several hundred megawatts under development in Mexico – for itself and for clients last year, ACCIONA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) for the promotion of joint renewable energy projects in Mexico.