SENER, CFE Present Mixed Schemes for Development

The Ministry of Energy and CFE unveiled the Mixed Development Schemes, a mechanism designed to attract private investment while preserving state control over strategic decisions in the electricity sector. The initiative, presented jointly by Minister of Energy Luz Elena González and CFE CEO Emilia Calleja, aims to add 7,500MW of new generation capacity by 2030, relying primarily on renewable technologies such as wind, photovoltaic solar and concentrated solar power. 

The schemes are positioned as a cornerstone of the federal government’s medium term energy strategy under President Claudia Sheinbaum, at a time when Mexico faces rising electricity demand, grid congestion and growing pressure to expand clean generation capacity. According to SENER, the program seeks to provide legal certainty and financial viability for projects that have long been stalled by regulatory uncertainty. Under the model, CFE will retain planning authority and strategic control, while private partners participate through clearly defined contracts that allocate risks, investments, and returns. The central feature of the scheme is the long term power purchase commitment by CFE, which González Escobar described as a key element to ensure bankability and attract domestic and international financing.

“This is about projects that can be financed, that have clear rules, and long-term certainty, and that contribute to system reliability and regional development,” the energy minister said. She emphasized that transparent and competitive processes will be used to select projects, a message aimed at restoring investor confidence after years of policy volatility in the power sector.

Calleja was explicit in addressing one of the most sensitive political issues surrounding private participation in electricity. She stressed that the mixed development schemes do not imply privatization or the transfer of strategic assets. “The state retains control over planning and strategic decision making,” she said, adding that the model is aligned with constitutional principles that define electricity as a public service under state stewardship.

This positioning reflects a broader narrative that has gained prominence, highlighting the government’s effort to reconcile increased private investment with a stronger role for state owned companies. Rather than reopening the market liberalization model of the previous decade, the Sheinbaum administration is advancing a hybrid approach in which CFE acts as the anchor buyer and system planner, while private capital supports capacity expansion and technological deployment.

The Mixed Development Schemes are embedded within the Infrastructure Investment Plan for Development With Well-Being 2026–2030, a federal program that foresees total investment of MX$5.6 trillion (US$325.793 billion), with more than half allocated to the energy sector. Electricity generation, transmission and distribution are expected to absorb a significant share of those resources, reflecting concerns about supply security and grid reliability as electrification accelerates across industry, transport and households.

Mexico’s electricity demand is projected to grow steadily toward the end of the decade, driven by nearshoring, data centers and industrial expansion in the north and center of the country. At the same time, limited investment in transmission infrastructure and delays in permitting new generation projects have increased the risk of regional bottlenecks. Against this backdrop, the addition of 7,500MW through mixed schemes is seen by officials as both an economic and operational necessity.

The emphasis on renewable technologies is also notable. While the current administration has repeatedly defended the role of conventional generation in ensuring reliability, it has also committed to increasing the share of clean energy in the power mix. Wind and solar projects developed under the new schemes are expected to be strategically located to strengthen the system, rather than simply maximize installed capacity, a point CFE officials highlighted during the presentation.

Industry participants attending the session, including representatives from financial institutions and energy companies, broadly welcomed the announcement, noting that the long term offtake commitments by CFE address one of the main barriers to investment in Mexico’s power sector. Several speakers pointed to the importance of clear contractual frameworks and dispute resolution mechanisms, issues that have featured prominently in Mexico Business News reporting on previous public private initiatives.

The launch of the Esquemas para el Desarrollo Mixto also signals a shift in tone from confrontation to structured engagement with the private sector. In recent months, government officials have increasingly framed private investment as complementary to public objectives, rather than as a threat to sovereignty. This recalibration has been particularly evident in the electricity sector, where the need for capital and technology is becoming more acute.

While key details regarding timelines, tender structures and specific project locations are still expected to be released, the presentation marks the most concrete step yet toward a new investment cycle in power generation. For investors, the success of the model will depend on its implementation, including the transparency of bidding processes and the consistency of regulatory oversight. For the government, the challenge will be to deliver new capacity on time while maintaining political and social support for a model that blends state leadership with private participation.