Guanajuato Expands Renewable Energy Efforts

Municipal and state institutions in Guanajuato are advancing renewable energy infrastructure through new solar and geothermal projects aimed at reducing emissions, lowering operating costs, and strengthening long-term sustainability.

The Municipal Housing Institute of León (IMUVI) has begun operating a solar energy system installed at its offices, supported by the Municipal Environmental Fund (FAM). The project represents an investment of MX$1.161 million (US$66,077) and is expected to reduce the institute’s annual electricity costs to near zero, allowing savings to be redirected toward housing programs.

“From today on, the energy consumed at the institute is being generated through solar cells, in an effort to make the institute sustainable,” said Rodrigo Alonso Díaz, Technical Area Director, IMUVI.

The system required regulatory approvals from CFE and CNE. With these permits completed, IMUVI has fully transitioned its operations to solar power, contributing to lower emissions and improved resource efficiency.

At the same time, the University of Guanajuato is expanding its own renewable energy infrastructure through its Institutional Energy Efficiency Program. The university inaugurated a solar farm at its San Carlos campus, which includes 367 panels and an installed capacity of 238.6kWp. In its first phase, the system is expected to generate 383,111.3kWh annually.

According to the university, this output is equivalent to planting 12,967 trees and will reduce approximately 168.569t of CO₂e emissions per year. The energy produced is already integrated into Campus León consumption, reducing dependence on the conventional power grid.

The project is part of a broader investment of MX$18 million funded through federal resources from the Multiple Contributions Fund (FAM) for higher education, covering additional installations across campuses in León, Irapuato-Salamanca, and Celaya-Salvatierra. University officials said the initiative aims to improve energy efficiency and reduce operating costs while strengthening institutional sustainability goals.

In parallel, the private sector is advancing geothermal energy development in the state. Energías Alternas, Estudios y Proyectos (ENAL) is planning an MX$80 million investment in a geothermal power plant in the Laja-Bajío region, which would use binary cycle technology to generate continuous electricity from subsurface heat.

The project, with an initial capacity of 12.5MW, has already obtained regulatory permits from the Ministry of Energy (SENER), the National Energy Commission (CNE), and CFE. Unlike conventional geothermal systems, the binary cycle technology operates through a closed-loop system that transfers heat to a working fluid without extracting underground steam.

According to the company, the system allows for 24-hour electricity generation without intermittency and operates independently of groundwater used for human, agricultural, or industrial consumption. Once integrated into Mexico’s National Electric System, the project is expected to support emissions reduction and strengthen Guanajuato’s position in clean energy development.