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A UNITED SOLAR FRONT HÉCTOR OLEA President of the Mexican Association of Solar Energy (ASOLMEX)
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Q: What has been ASOLMEX’s major contribution to the
with the revision of the regulatory framework, many things
solar industry in Mexico?
could be improved. But the main industry pillars, such as the
A: ASOLMEX has achieved many objectives in the past few
Wholesale Electricity Market, the autonomy of regulatory
years. In 2014, when we started the association, ASOLMEX
institutions and the central role that CENACE plays, are
was comprised of 10 founders and to date it has more than
important for the market to grow at the needed pace.
110 members. The first achievement is the consolidation of an industry in constant growth. ASOLMEX unites the interests
Q: What is missing for energy storage technology to take
of all the parties involved in the solar industry value chain,
over the Mexican market?
from big utilities to distributed generation. This kind of
A: This is a movie that we already watched with PV equipment
unification did not exist a few years ago and has motivated
– not only inverters but with solar panels as well. From 2013
a greater interaction with relevant decision-makers, such as
to 2018, energy storage costs have dramatically decreased
the Ministry of Energy, CRE, CENACE and even CFE. During
and this motivated a 70 percent decrease in generation
this journey, we have fought many battles, including the
costs as well. Big utility storage through battery systems is
removal of the 15 percent import tariff imposed on solar
the second wave of innovation that will hit renewables. We
panel technology. Among the association’s activities, one
are observing this trend in the US, Europe, China and South
of the most interesting initiatives is Ilumínate. This social
Korea. In the next two years, battery prices will decrease
program delivers solar lamp kits to communities that do not
by half and will affect Mexico from a technological and
have access to the grid. It is one of the flagship projects we
regulatory standpoint. The technology has been around for
are most proud of. ASOLMEX’s main goal is to develop the
some years now but the disruption will reside in the price. The
solar industry in Mexico and energy democratization plays
important thing is to establish ground rules that permit the
an important role within this.
development of this technology in Mexico. There is a whole committee in ASOLMEX dealing with this issue directly with
Q: What are the most common headaches for
CRE to motivate the consolidation of a regulatory framework
ASOLMEX’s members?
that acts as a catalyzer. Aura Solar III, a 30MW solar park,
A: Solar energy plays an enormous role in the Mexican project
is the first project in the country to have a 10MW energy
portfolio and there is always room for improvement. Under
storage solution. The idea behind developing this project
the current political landscape, the association’s agenda will
was to show regulatory institutions and investors that this
have to hit the stand-by button. Our main concern is that
is now a reality in Mexico.
the new administration really understands the country’s wide energy needs. The new business model derived from
Q: What are ASOLMEX’s main objectives for 2019?
the Energy Reform led to the positioning of renewable
A: The association’s eyes are set on the needs of
energies, including an investment boom, because certain
communicating and coordinating with the next administration.
conditions are present. If the new administration modifies
This is to reveal the basic principles that an industry requires
these conditions of certainty and competitiveness, the whole
to flourish, bringing investment and more capacity to the
sector will be affected, but mostly the solar segment. At the
country. This is an atypical year for the association because
moment, we are waiting for concrete signals. We believe that
we will not know the next administration’s strategy after the first 100 days. If the current business model goes forward and there is certainty for investment, ASOLMEX will continue
ASOLMEX groups operators, investors, providers and developers
to grow. This may not be in size, because the association
of utility-scale solar projects. It represents the interests of the
is composed of many members, but in quality to influence
industry through a forum that motivates the advancement of the
and talk with the corresponding authorities and develop an
regulatory and legal framework
ecosystem around solar industry in Mexico.
