Queretaro Promotes Solar Adoption in Hotels, Restaurants

The Queretaro State Energy Agency (AEEQ) has begun outreach efforts with restaurants and hotels to reduce air pollution and advance decarbonization, according to Mauricio Reyes Caracheo, director, AEEQ.

A key focus of the initiative is the food and beverage sector, which accounted for 7.9% of sulfur dioxide emissions in the state, according to the 2024 State Economic Yearbook. Sulfur dioxide emissions are associated with electricity generation from fossil fuels and contribute to air quality deterioration. The initiative also seeks to promote the installation of solar panels at hotels across the state.

“The main objective of the state government is sustainability, decarbonization and the use of alternative or renewable energy to prevent pollution from continuing to grow,” Reyes Caracheo said. He added that the agency expects to make progress this year through voluntary agreements with business owners to adopt renewable energy solutions. A similar approach is planned for universities, although those projects would require public investment.

Data from Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) show that Queretaro had 10,025 food and beverage establishments and 869 hotels as of 2021, making the hospitality sector a significant source of energy demand and emissions. State officials have identified these businesses as a priority for reducing the environmental footprint of commercial activity.

In parallel, the agency is seeking to revive a delayed program to install solar panels on public buildings, originally planned for 2024. Reyes Caracheo said efforts this year will prioritize large facilities with high electricity consumption, including the Government Palace, the Manuel Gómez Morín Cultural Center and the Queretaro Convention Center.

The state is also continuing discussions with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) to advance an electricity transmission project in the Sierra Gorda region. The project is being coordinated with municipal authorities in Jalpan de Serra and includes areas within a protected natural reserve.

Queretaro Advances Renewable Energy Projects

Reyes Caracheo said expanding renewable generation and improving grid infrastructure are essential to supporting economic activity while limiting emissions growth, particularly in sectors with high electricity use. His remarks follow the announcement by Canadian-Mexican solar energy company Solfium of a US$10 million investment in Queretaro in November. The initiative is expected to generate 150 direct and 600 indirect jobs, reinforcing Queretaro’s position as a hub for renewable energy and technological development.

Andrés Friedman, CEO, Solfium, described the investment as a milestone in the company’s three-year partnership with the state government. He explained that Solfium’s digital platform integrates installers, suppliers, financial institutions and logistics partners to deliver tailored solar energy solutions, attracting investment and accelerating technology adoption across the state.

“We want to be a catalyst so that other entrepreneurs can also grow alongside investment funds,” Friedman said. According to the company, projects stemming from the investment are expected to generate more than US$1.6 billion in savings for clients, reduce 3.5 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions, and benefit more than 2,500 SMEs through access to clean energy and operational savings.

Marco Antonio Del Prete, Minister of Sustainable Development, Queretaro, said Solfium’s technological platform aligns with the state’s sustainability agenda, which focuses on reducing carbon emissions through clean and efficient energy solutions. “Solar panels not only contribute to cleaner generation but also help businesses become more efficient and reduce fixed costs,” he said.