The concept of self-consumption groups , incorporated into the new Electricity Sector Law in Mexico following the reforms published at the end of 2025, opens a key window to guarantee access to renewable energy in industrial complexes, noted Ena Gutiérrez, Director of New Business at Enlight .

In an interview with T21, Gutiérrez explained that this model represents an evolution from the old isolated supply scheme , since it now allows several companies to share the energy generated by the same power plant, as long as they are located within the same area, such as industrial parks or complexes.

“The most important thing is that now they can be groups. That is, a single generating plant can supply several users without needing to inject energy into the grid,” he emphasized.

According to the specialist, this figure is designed to ensure the availability of particularly renewable energy in the industry, an increasingly decisive factor for the arrival of new investments to the country , especially from companies that have environmental commitments and require clean electricity to operate.

Gutiérrez highlighted that self-consumption groups are clearly defined within the new electricity regulations and in the general administrative provisions.

“It is a figure that did not exist before and that is now viable,” he noted, while considering this initiative as something positive , “especially for the industrial real estate development sector.”

He added that the initiative has been driven by associations and companies linked to the development of industrial parks and warehouses, as these are spaces where the model makes more technical and economic sense.

Industrial parks, the main beneficiaries

While the scheme can also be applied to large-scale tourist resorts, he stressed that industrial parks will be the main beneficiaries, as they concentrate multiple users in the same space.

“An independent hotel wouldn’t make sense within this framework, because it’s a single user. The model works when there are several consumers who share the generation,” he explained.

In terms of infrastructure, Gutiérrez indicated that these projects are viable as long as they are considered from the planning stage.  Industrial parks have a key advantage: large available rooftop spaces, ideal for installing photovoltaic systems.

“If electrical adaptations are considered from the design stage, technically and economically viable projects can be developed that generate direct benefits for companies,” he said.

In addition to access to renewable energy and savings compared to traditional grid consumption, self-consumption groups offer financial benefits through schemes such as Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

At a systemic level, Gutiérrez highlighted that this model also strengthens the resilience of the electrical system by diversifying generation sources and reducing dependence on centralized plants located at great distances.

A gradual transition, but underway.

Regarding the adoption of clean energy, he emphasized that it’s not about completely replacing conventional energy, but rather complementing it.  The speed of adoption, he said, depends largely on each company’s environmental objectives and its obligations to customers or ESG (environmental, social, and governance) commitments.

“Today it’s rare for a company not to have environmental and social issues on its radar. Those that already have clear objectives are progressing more quickly; others are just in the process of defining them,” he commented.

Looking ahead, Gutiérrez believes that self-consumption groups will be a catalyst for the growth of on-site renewable generation and for a greater share of clean energy in the national energy mix.

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El cargo Self-consumption groups promote renewable energy in industrial parks apareció primero en T21.

The growth of industrial infrastructure in Mexico is advancing at an accelerated pace, increasing the pressure on the national electricity system. As part of the Plan Mexico agenda , the construction of 103 new industrial parks was announced this year , with a projected development horizon to 2030 , which will imply a significant additional demand for energy

According to estimates from the Mexican Association of Private Industrial Parks (AMPIP) , these new developments will require approximately 2.5 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity to meet their operational needs . This is in addition to the existing infrastructure: there are currently around 500 industrial parks operating in the country , which together will demand approximately 13.2 GW more .

Although nearly 90% of these complexes have a basic electricity supply , the pace of industrial expansion makes strengthening the distribution and transmission networks essential to ensure operational continuity and the arrival of new investments.

Self-consumption, key to industrial energy planning

In this context, Enlight , a Mexican renewable energy solutions company, pointed out that on-site generation schemes for self-consumption , which include power plants with a capacity of 0.7 megawatts (MW) or greater , are acquiring a strategic role. These solutions help alleviate pressure on the electrical grid , using it as a supplement to the supply rather than as the sole source of energy.

The company emphasized that the recent publication of the Regulations of the Electricity Sector Law (RLSE) provides greater legal clarity for the implementation of these schemes by establishing more precise definitions and conditions that allow industrial users to actively participate in generating their own energy. This strengthens energy planning for both new developments and existing industrial parks.

Among the most relevant elements of this regulation is the formal incorporation of the figures of self-consumption user , defined as the natural or legal person who satisfies totally or partially their electrical needs through energy generated on site, and of self-consumption group , which allows two or more users to share the energy produced through a particular network, even without belonging to the same business group.

Under these schemes, industrial parks can guarantee the operational continuity of the companies they house, either by combining the energy generated on site with the use of the public grid, or even through completely autonomous operations , without a physical connection to the transmission or distribution networks, in “island mode” .

Industrial microgrids strengthen resilience and energy security

On the other hand, Enlight asserted that the adoption of industrial microgrids is emerging as a key solution for production facilities to locally manage their energy generation, consumption, and backup. A microgrid is a system developed by specialized providers that integrates generation, storage, and control under a coordinated operating strategy.

These systems incorporate, firstly, on-site generation from renewable sources , such as solar photovoltaics, which reduces dependence on external supply and promotes the use of clean energy in industrial operations. Secondly, they integrate battery energy storage systems (BESS) , which provide stability, allow for meeting peak demand, and maintain operations during power outages.

Finally, microgrids incorporate intelligent control and monitoring platforms , capable of responding dynamically to the energy needs of industrial plants.

Beyond cost optimization, these solutions are consolidated as a key factor in strengthening energy security, operational resilience and supply reliability , while driving an orderly transition towards cleaner production schemes that accompany the sustained growth of industrial activity in Mexico.

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El cargo Expansion of industrial parks in Mexico increases energy pressure apareció primero en T21.

The energy transition has ceased to be a technical debate and has become an operational and economic imperative. Between global pressure to decarbonize, the need to strengthen national infrastructure, and the arrival of new investments resulting from nearshoring (relocation of production lines), Mexico faces a scenario in which regulatory clarity and technological innovation will determine its competitiveness

In that context, Aidana Velázquez , Institutional Relations Manager at Enlight , explained how the electricity sector is being reconfigured and what opportunities are opening up for the industry.

According to Velázquez, 2024 and 2025 have represented a turning point for the regulatory framework of the electricity sector. The Electricity Sector Law , published in March, and the regulations released in October , have more precisely outlined how private enterprise can participate in generation, self-consumption, and storage .

The central focus, he explained in an interview, is to establish clear rules to incentivize investment and make new infrastructure viable.

“The law already hinted at the forms of participation; the regulations help us see how it will be implemented in practice,” he noted.

Among the most relevant changes are the 46% limit for private participation in large-scale generation, the expansion of the distributed generation threshold from 0.5 megawatts (MW) to 0.7 MW , and the expected new self-consumption scheme for capacities between 0.7 and 20 MW, with simplified procedures, in addition to the formal recognition of energy storage within the electricity value chain.

This last point is key, since for the first time an activity that will be essential to integrate variable renewable energies and avoid interruptions in industrial operations is being incorporated into the regulations, Velázquez stressed.

Although Mexico is one of the countries with the highest solar irradiation in the world and has highly productive wind corridors, its progress in clean energy has lagged behind other nations in the region.

“We were on track to reach a goal of 35% clean capacity , but we are currently at around 24 percent . In contrast, countries like Chile already exceed 48% clean generation,” Velázquez explained

The official diagnosis agrees: the recently published Electricity Sector Development Program (Prodesen) shows a considerable delay and sets a goal of 38.5% for the coming years.

“The numbers tell us there is much to be done. The global trend is clear: energy matrices must become increasingly cleaner,” he stated.

One of the biggest current pressures on the electricity grid comes from nearshoring . With the arrival of new industrial parks and manufacturing centers, energy availability has become a decisive factor for companies to locate there.

“Mexico was being left out of the game due to a lack of energy availability in certain areas,” Velázquez explained.

To address this, the regulation incorporates mechanisms that make it easier for companies to generate their own energy on-site through self-consumption or distributed generation schemes.

This prevents energy shortages from delaying the installation of new plants, provides operational certainty to energy-intensive industries such as automotive or electronics, reduces long-term energy costs, and contributes to meeting ESG (Environmental,  Social  , and  Governance  ) commitments .

The manager highlighted that industrial consumption represents 50% of the energy in Mexico , which underscores the importance of enabling decentralized solutions for this growing demand.

Velázquez emphasized the need to understand that industrial operations cannot depend solely on variable renewable sources such as the sun or wind.

Therefore, the new schemes combine solar or wind power generation , backup with gas or other conventional sources, and energy storage systems to ensure continuity, quality and energy arbitrage.

The regulation foresees new rules for storage no later than June 2026, which will boost its adoption.

Mexico has the natural resources and now a more defined regulatory framework ; the challenge is to accelerate the adoption of solutions that allow energy to stop being a hindrance and become an enabler of growth.

“Demand continues to increase. The great opportunity is to leverage nearshoring to make this expansion sustainable and based on clean energy,” he emphasized.

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El cargo Mexico accelerates its move towards clean energy: regulation, nearshoring, and the role of self-consumption apareció primero en T21.

In a context where pressure to decarbonize industrial operations is increasing, distributed generation is emerging as a strategic solution for industrial parks and manufacturing centers in Mexico.

This is key for the Mexican industry, where nearshoring (relocation of production lines) is driving new manufacturing facilities, explained Manuel Ahumada, managing partner of Enlight , a company specializing in microgrids and energy storage.

“Distributed generation is generating energy right where it’s consumed,” Ahumada explained.

He added that, unlike large solar or wind farms connected to the national grid, this model takes advantage of vacant spaces such as industrial warehouse roofs to install solar photovoltaic systems that directly power the plants’ operations.

One of the key differentiators of Enlight’s model is that companies don’t need to invest in infrastructure.

“We make the investment, and the customer only pays for the energy generated,” Ahumada said.

This has been key to facilitating the adoption of clean energy solutions, especially among companies with high energy demands, such as those in the automotive, food, and logistics sectors.

In addition to solar panels, Enlight has integrated lithium-ion battery storage , enabling the formation of smart microgrids .

These systems not only generate energy during the day, but also store electricity during lower-cost times for use during peak periods, thus generating greater savings.

“A microgrid can represent up to 90% energy cost savings for our customers,” Ahumada said.

Furthermore, it allows operations to continue even in the event of power outages, which has become increasingly important given the recent disruptions to the national power grid.

According to the executive, the arrival of the new government has brought encouraging signs for the sector.

Currently, the limit for distributed generation is 500 kilowatts peak (kWp) per site, but the new administration’s energy plan contemplates raising this to 700 kWp and even enabling self-consumption schemes for projects of up to 20 megawatts, under an express modality.

“We’ve been experiencing a stagnant regulatory environment for six years. Today, we’re seeing clear signs of momentum, which is very motivating for us,” he said.

The sector’s growth has been steady: interconnection requests have increased by 25 to 30% annually, and in Enlight’s case, its own projects have grown by more than 40% year-over-year.

This boom is fueled by trends such as nearshoring , which has brought new factories to Mexico with high energy demands and a growing interest in sustainable solutions.

“Any company with a demand greater than one megawatt is a candidate,” Ahumada said.

This ranges from hotel groups to distribution centers, industrial parks, and manufacturing plants, even in vertical installations with limited roof space, the combination of panels and batteries makes the model viable.

Ahumada emphasized that the benefits are not only economic .

“We’re talking about hundreds of thousands of liters of water saved and a significant reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions,” he stressed.

Additionally, companies can access clean energy certificates (IRECs), allowing them to strengthen their ESG (environmental, social, and governance) strategies and, in some cases, monetize these benefits in voluntary carbon markets.

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El cargo Distributed generation, key to the energy future in industrial parks apareció primero en T21.