CEO Round Table: Energy Sector Priorities to Unleash Investment

As energy costs rise and infrastructure bottlenecks persist, businesses in Mexico face growing pressure to rethink their energy strategies. Industrial users, particularly those operating in manufacturing hubs and emerging logistics corridors, are finding that securing reliable, cost-efficient, and compliant energy supply is no longer a back-office concern but a boardroom priority. This evolving reality is compelling companies to engage more actively with energy markets, often requiring levels of technical and regulatory understanding they had not previously needed.

In this context, businesses must become energy experts. The rise of energy suppliers, aggregators, and specialized consultants is helping companies manage complexity without diverting resources from their core operations. These players are enabling industrial users to navigate distributed generation, PPAs, energy efficiency solutions, and regulatory compliance, while offering integrated services that translate technical challenges into business value.

As the world increasingly demands more energy, Alejandro Peón Peralta, Country Manager, Naturgy Mexico, believes that the perspective of energy companies should change to listen more closely to the specific needs of the clients to not just provide energy, but a holistic service composed of new ideas and technologies. “The client does need to at least understand the basics and, depending on how much energy costs represent in their processes, they do need to develop areas of expertise because it will be a driver for the future,” says Peralta. "Companies dedicated to energy also need to serve the client. We need to provide information, reliability, analysis, and value in the service. We must not just deliver energy but be willing to invent new things.”

The business case for alternative energy investment is also evolving. For many companies, renewables and energy-as-a-service models are no longer just driven by ESG commitments alone, but by economics. Rising grid tariffs, reliability issues, and growing investor scrutiny are pushing companies toward on-site generation, clean energy procurement, and smarter load management. “Large corporations in Mexico have to meet ESG goals and sustainability objectives,” says Luis Quero, Mexico Country Manager at Atlantica. “They are under pressure from investors and clients, and they have to opt for alternative energies."

Battery storage is also becoming part of these conversations, but opinions remain divided. Technological readiness is no longer in question, especially for commercial and industrial-scale applications. However, the economic situation is still maturing, often dependent on access to financing, supportive regulation, and volatility in grid reliability or pricing. While large-scale batteries can enhance grid stability and reduce peak charges, their deployment in Mexico is still in its early stages. Clearer policy signals and incentive mechanisms will be critical for unlocking broader adoption.

The potential for batteries within Mexico’s energy market is something that Pedro Cañamero, Country Manager, ENEL Mexico, believes is just scratching the surface. Beyond bringing resilience and stability to the system, they have the potential to be crucial investments and evolve with technology as the grid is modernized. However, understanding how these assets will be regulated and how they will fit into the industry economically is crucial. 

“As with any kind of technology, in the initial stage the price is going to be a bit higher,” says Cañamero. “You have to look at what these batteries are used for and whether the regulatory framework allows you to make those investments in the long term.”

Meanwhile, grid code enforcement continues to shape how projects are developed and operated. More companies are recognizing compliance not only as a legal obligation, but as a gateway to future-proofing operations. However, the level of preparedness remains uneven, with some industrial users underestimating the technical and financial implications of non-compliance. Integrators and energy service providers are stepping in to fill this gap, offering turnkey solutions that include compliance assessments and technical upgrades.

Compliance also demands that the grid code remains stable and without regulatory fluctuations. For Eva Ribera, CEO Mexico and Caribbean, Contour Global, making sure that there is long term planning is key to guaranteeing a profitable, secure and reliable electricity supply. 

“There has to be, first and foremost, long-term planning that does not shift, regardless of which political party is in power,” says Ribera. “There must be regulatory and legal certainty that gives investors the confidence that they will receive an adequate return. And then, of course, it also depends on what the government wants in terms of providing incentives to support one kind of energy and promote its development.”

Another crucial aspect that must be considered to maximize the financial benefits for both generators and consumers is optimization of generation systems. “On the generator side, that optimization and pursuit of efficiency translates to competitiveness,” says César Cornejo, Managing Director Renewable Mexico and Vice President Operations Renewable Latin America, ENGIE. “To be competitive, we need to ensure that we produce or extract the greatest amount of energy possible from the sun or the wind when it is their time. It is in our DNA to be competitive to lower the price of energy as much as we can.”

Ultimately, the new energy reality in Mexico is demanding a deeper level of engagement from private actors. Whether through direct investment, partnerships with suppliers, or reliance on third-party expertise, business leaders agree that companies are becoming critical stakeholders in the country’s energy transition. Those that embrace this role stand to gain a competitive edge, not only through cost savings, but through resilience, innovation, and alignment with a more complex but opportunity-rich energy environment.