Mexico’s Energy Forum Calls for Certainty, Modernization

At Mexico's National Energy Forum, industry leaders talked about the potential to accelerate clean energy adoption. However, concerns were raised regarding outdated regulations, slow approvals, and infrastructure gaps that could threaten Mexico’s clean energy and electrification goals.

Senator Yeidckol Polevnsky laid out a five-point proposal aimed at accelerating solar energy adoption in Mexico, with a focus on social equity, regulatory reform, and residential electrification. She called on the federal government to support rooftop solar deployment in underserved areas by working with agencies like INFONAVIT and FIDE to offer affordable financing schemes. “This is truly simple and could help solve many problems,” she said.

Polevnsky also urged the streamlining of interconnection approvals for businesses. “Today, a company can wait more than three months in a torturous, bureaucratic process,” she said, proposing a national digital one-stop shop with mandatory response times.

She highlighted the urgent need for a national safety regulation for battery storage systems, noting that “incredibly, no such NOM exists today.” Additional proposals included green mortgage credits with integrated solar systems and a federal fund for rural community solar projects, all aimed at benefiting Mexico’s most vulnerable populations.

Private sector leaders and technical experts underscored the need for updated regulation, legal certainty, and clear frameworks to ensure Mexico’s electricity sector remains competitive and resilient amid rapid technological change.

Adalberto García, President, Mexican Energy Association (AME), said that while the 2025 energy reform includes new models like long-term production contracts and mixed public-private production schemes, their success hinges on clear, transparent rules. “We need defined frameworks that align risks and benefits, clarify asset transfers, and establish corporate governance in public-private alliances so banks can finance these projects,” he said.

José Buganza, CEO, Enegence, criticized current regulatory changes as incomplete and outdated, however. “We designed the 2014 market with flexibility for future technologies, what is happening now was foreseen. But current regulation does not reflect the coming shift to prosumer models or storage,” he warned, adding that household solar, battery integration, and even labor-free manufacturing are converging faster than policy can adapt.

For Kino Energy, Regulatory Director Sofía Tamayo emphasized legal certainty as a foundation for growth. “Energy projects span decades. Investors need confidence that rules will be stable and rights protected to follow the state’s lead with capital, innovation, and execution,” she said.

Aquiles López, President, CANAME, flagged regulatory stagnation. “The law on quality infrastructure has lacked implementation for five years, and 90% of our electrical installation standards will be obsolete within two. Our main electrical code is 14 years out of date,” he said, calling for urgent action to align with trade partners and prevent unsafe or unfair imports.

Regarding electromobility, experts emphasized that EV adoption must be paired with robust energy infrastructure and clean power to truly transform the transportation sector. Diana Ávalos Morales, Director General, AMIVE, framed electric mobility as an opportunity to strengthen the national electricity system while offering more dignified, sustainable, and humane transport across Mexico.

Gonzalo Gómez, Head of Business Development, Huawei’s Digital Power Business, noted that the growing popularity of EVs, up 40% in 1H25 compared to the previous half year, is straining the grid. He argued it is unrealistic to expect every EV owner to have a home charger or that large-scale public transport projects can easily secure the multi-megawatt capacity needed. To ease grid stress, Gómez advocated for ecosystem solutions combining distributed solar generation and battery storage to power public transport fleets and charging stations more reliably.

Rafael Burgos Aguilar, head of Enel X Mexico, said true electrification hinges not just on replacing fossil-fuel vehicles, but on ensuring the electricity used is clean. Only when charging infrastructure, power generation, and transmission are integrated with renewable sources, he added, can Mexico fully close the loop on sustainable electrification.