Enel will develop 593 MW of wind capacity in Mexico following the third renewable auction in the country

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Enel S.p.A., has been awarded the right to sign a number of contracts in Mexico to supply energy and clean certificates with four wind projects for a total capacity of 593 MW in the country’s third long-term public tender since its energy reform.

As we reported a few days ago, Mexico selected 16 offers in the preliminary results of the country's third long-term electric power auction, receiving record low prices in the economic offers from developers. Average renewable energy prices, for power plus Clean Energy Certificates (CEC), stood at US$20.57/MWh, which was 38.5% lower than in the second auction, and the price for power was US$36,253/MW/year.

Three plants, Amistad II and Amistad III with a total installed capacity of 100 MW each, and Amistad IV with an installed capacity of 149 MW, will be built in Acuña, in the northern State of Coahuila. 

The Enel Group will be investing around US$700 million in the construction of the new facilities, in line with the investments outlined in the company’s current Strategic Plan. Each project will be supported by a contract providing for the sale to Mexico’s Cámara de Compensación1 of specified volumes of energy over a 15-year period and of the related clean certificates over a 20-year period.

Antonio Cammisecra, Head of Enel’s Global Renewable Energies Division Enel Green Power, said: 

“We are thrilled about yet another great success in Mexico, a core market for us, and we are proud to confirm our leadership in the country’s renewables aren. Through this important win, we will significantly contribute to the country’s demand for electricity from renewable sources. This is just another step of our strategy in the country that we will implement through organic growth as well as through the ‘build, sell and operate’ model that enables us to leverage on our global pipeline, accelerating our growth worldwide.”

The new plants are due to enter into operation in the first half of 2020. Once fully operational, the facilities are expected to produce 2.09 TWh/year of renewable energy, therefore avoiding the annual emission of nearly 960,000 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere.