SENER Outlines New Policy Program

The Ministry of Energy published a preliminary draft of the 2020-2024 Energy Sector Program on the website of the National Commission for Regulatory Improvement (CONAMER). In other news, private companies have successfully attained suspensions against controversial government policies, Siemens Gamesa will welcome a new CEO and the climate crisis needs to be averted within the next six months, says IEA. Read about this and more in your weekly roundup!

SENER Outlines New Policy Program

The Ministry of Energy published a preliminary draft of the 2020-2024 Energy Sector Program on CONAMER’s website. The document outlines the objectives of the Ministry in the energy sector: SENER intends to align the government’s regulatory bodies, reduce the output of private renewable energy to avoid congestion and strengthen state-owned PEMEX and CFE.

Judge Awards First Suspension to CFE Transmission Hike

In an ever-widening conflict between the state and private power producers, CFE announced last week it would hike its transmission fees up to 800 percent. Those affected are private companies on legacy contracts, which had been signed before the Energy Reform in 2013. Private companies reacted disconcerted and legal action against the measure was taken. Last Friday, a judge awarded the first suspension against the transmission hike.

Judge Suspends SENER Policy; Ministry Will Fight Back

A federal judge indefinitely suspended SENER’s policy that aimed to gain deeper control of Mexico’s National Electric System. As soon as the policy was made public on May 15, the entity Defensa Collectiva (Collective Defense) requested an amparo, which has now been made definitive until SENER challenges the decision. Rocío Nahle, Mexico’s Minister of Energy, has already announced that SENER will challenge the suspension immediately, reported El Universal. It is the second amparo won against SENER’s measure; the first one was awarded in the beginning of June to GreenPeace.

Micro-Grids: Solid Prospect for Mexico’s Energy Transmission

A micro-grid is a smaller, localized group of energy sources. While it is usually connected to the larger, regular grid and is, therefore, synchronized, it has the advantage that it can also operate autonomously in “Island Mode,” according to research by Berkeley Lab. While micro-grids do have their weaknesses, there are many more benefits. Therefore, they could prove an interesting option for updating Mexico’s grid system.

International

The World Has Six Months Left to Stop Climate Crisis

As reported by The Guardian, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency Fatih Birol argues that the world has a mere six months to prevent a dreaded global climate crisis from happening. According to Birol, the issue lies within global post-COVID-19 rebound plans. If these are to rebound into polluting forms of energy generation, a climate crisis might not be avertable; so much that they would  nullify efforts to minimize climate impact so far. However, if countries choose to go down the green reactivation route, significant progress can be made.

Siemens Gamesa CEO to Be Replaced

GreenTech Media reported that Siemens Gamesa CEO Markus Tacke is to be replaced by Andreas Nauen, currently directing the offshore segment. The termination of the contract was made Wednesday night in mutual agreement and was inspired by increasing issues regarding the company’s onshore business. The move comes some months before Siemens Gamesa’s inclusion in a new spinoff called Siemens Energy.