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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