News

More details on the geothermal concessions from Sener to the CFE in Mexico

More details on the geothermal concessions from Sener to the CFE in Mexico Los Azufres geothermal power plant, Mexico (source: Alstom)
Francisco Rojas 23 Jul 2015

The 13 geothermal areas represent nearly 450MW of geothermal power and are located in Baja California, Michoacan, Nayarit and Puebla, like the reminding five concessions.

Following yesterday’s public announcement, we have now more details regarding the 13 geothermal areas and five concessions that were given by the Mexican Secretariat of Energy (Sener) to the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE).

In the announcement, the head of Sener, Pedro Joaquin Coldwell noted that Mexico has an estimated geothermal potential of 13,400MW and less than 7% is currently being used.

Regarding the concessions. they consist of exploit and use allowance of Cerro Prieto in Baja California, Tres Virgenes in South Baja California, Nayarit, Los Humeros in Puebla, los Azufres in Michoacán and Cerritos Colorados in Jalisco. Regarding the 13 geothermal sites, they are divided within Baja California, Michoacan, Nayarit and Puebla.

Together, theses 13 sites represent approximately 1,541 square kilometers and 448 MW.

Mr. Coldwell said that the cost of geothermal energy is second cheapest in all renewable technologies in Mexico with a cost of between 55 and 75 dollars per MW.

He announced that in order to minimize risks to the exploration stage, Nacional Financiera (Nafin) and the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) have created a fund in case of not finding potential private entrepreneurs.

Undersecretary of Energy Transition Planning and the Ministry of Energy, Leonardo Beltran, explained that these areas are proven to have geothermal power generation capacity.

The CEO of the CFE, Enrique Ochoa Reza, said that his entity is expected to increase 50 percent its electricity generation thanks to the new concessions.

Source: Economia Hoy