British solar developer Hive Energy has opened an office in Mexico City to identify opportunities for solar PV development in Mexico and the wider Central America region.
Bernardo Fernandez has been appointed by Hive as director of business development and project management for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
Fernandez’s remit is to identify and develop PV projects in the region both through private power purchase agreements and future public auctions, focusing on utility scale PV plants and commercial rooftop installations.
Hive said the move into Mexico’s unsubsidised solar energy market aims to capitalise on the favourable economic, political and environmental conditions for renewable energy in the country.
Mexico’s legislation is set-up to embrace solar energy with virtual net metering and energy storage laws already on the books.
The Hampshire-based company said solar power in Mexico is relatively untapped but 70% of the country has an isolation of greater than 4.5 kWh per square metre per day.
Hive Energy chief executive Giles Redpath said: “Mexico is perhaps the world’s first unsubsidized ‘real’ solar market of size. It is one of the few countries where the renewable energy source has already reached grid parity.
“Without any subsidies or FITs to roll back, Mexico’s solar market is almost certain to persist in the long term and we want to take this opportunity to supporting the fledgling solar industry with our wealth of experience, while generating employment opportunities and giving customers choice in how they source their electricity”.
Mexico’s governing energy body, the Secretaría de Energía (SENER) predicts Mexico should have 6 GW of solar installed by 2020.
Image: Mexico flag (Hive Energy)
