Developers File SEMARNAT Permits for 1.2GW Renewable Projects

Private energy developers have submitted environmental impact statements to SEMARNAT for 1.2GW of solar and wind projects integrated with battery storage under regulatory review across Mexico. In other news, US-based energy startup Voya Energy raised US$35 million to commercialize an off-grid power generation system that converts low-grade scrap aluminum into zero-emission electricity via electrochemical generators. 

Ready for more? This is your Weekly RoundUp! 

Developers Seek SEMARNAT Permits for 1.2GW Clean Energy

Between Aug. 3 and 14, 2026, private energy developers submitted Regional Environmental Impact Statements (MIA-R) to SEMARNAT to initiate the environmental evaluation process for several utility-scale solar and wind projects across Mexico. The projects, representing 1.2GW of new generation capacity, include the direct integration of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) alongside generation assets, aligning with recent CNE regulations. The filings, published in SEMARNAT’s Ecological Gazette, represent permit applications under regulatory review and do not constitute authorized construction or operational approvals.

How CFE Meter Shortage Can Drive Mexico's Solar Independence

Miguel Medina, Managing Director, Corey Solar, considers that nineteen years after Mexico’s early solar interconnections, the sector remains constrained by CFE’s severe shortage of bidirectional meters. With thousands of installed PV projects left dark across the country, installers are forced to finance stranded assets while customers lose potential returns. To break free from utility delays and tightening export tariffs, Medina argues installers must shift away from pure grid export to self-consumption and battery storage models.

Jalisco Launches Mexico’s First Solar Panel Recycling Plant

Mexico’s first specialized solar panel recycling plant has been established in Ciudad Guzmán, Jalisco. The project was launched through a joint initiative between Rafiqui, a non-profit association comprising approximately 17 solar industry companies, and the Jalisco state government.

Shifting Baseline Syndrome: Why We Ignore Eco Loss (Part 1)

Julio César Trujillo Segura, General Director, Bureau Soluciones Socioambientales, argues that passivity toward environmental destruction stems from shifting baseline syndrome, where each generation accepts a degraded planet as normal. Because human perception relies on short-term personal reference points rather than natural timescales, Trujillo Segura contends that environmental law must move beyond immediate economic priorities and anthropocentric frameworks to protect long-term ecosystem resilience.

Asia Looks to LATAM Oil, But Mexico's Supply is Limited

Ongoing conflict involving the United States and Iran has disrupted global oil supply chains and driven commodity prices to US$92.6/b, a 29.1% year-on-year increase. Amid this instability, Asian countries have sought alternative trade routes and suppliers across Latin America to strengthen their supply chains. Despite this market shift, Mexico has not been able to capitalize on it, as limited production and a focus on internal refinement leave little room for exporting surpluses.

Voya Energy Raises US$35 Million to Scale Aluminum-Fueled Power

US-based energy startup Voya Energy announced a US$35 million Series A financing round alongside the public release of its off-grid power generation system. The technology combines a proprietary metal fuel produced from low-grade scrap aluminum with a purpose-built electrochemical generator that generates electricity without combustion or direct air emissions.