Mexico: Energy Ministry prioritizes new power generation permits and establishes a binding schedule

Mexico - 05 / 14 / 2026

Through a new call for applications, the Mexican government will allow the development of new strategic projects aligned with the binding planning framework established by the Energy Ministry (SENER), with the purpose of ensuring orderly planning consistent with the generation capacity requirements of the National Electric System (SEN), in response to the country’s energy needs.

On May 11, 2026, SENER published in the Official Gazette of the Federation the “Second Call for the Priority Processing of Applications for Power Generation Permits and Interconnection to the National Electric System, Aligned with Binding Planning.”

Through this call, SENER establishes a mechanism for the priority processing of applications for generation permits in accordance with the planning instruments of the electricity sector. This is intended to organize and streamline the registration, evaluation, and monitoring procedures for projects associated with applications that meet the applicable requirements.

Specifically, the call is addressed to interested parties seeking to develop new generation projects with a capacity equal to or greater than 0.7 MW that intend to interconnect to the SEN and meet the following requirements:

Contribute to meeting the reliability, efficiency, and sustainability objectives of the SEN.
Comply with binding planning, including, among others:
- technical criteria set forth in the applicable regulations;
- the use of renewable energy sources;
- generation capacity aligned with unmet requirements from previous calls (including joint development schemes);
- energy storage system sizing of at least 30% of the power plant’s capacity.
- earliest commercial operation date between 2027 and the first quarter of 2030.
Have documentary evidence of technical, social, and environmental feasibility procedures carried out before the competent authorities.

Accordingly, distributed generation projects, self-supply (in all its modalities), cogeneration, projects under joint development schemes, projects that do not require a permit, and those associated with power generation permits granted prior to this call that remain in force are excluded.

Project files will be submitted through the Single Window for Strategic Energy Sector Projects (VUPE) for review by the relevant technical analysis group. The National Energy Commission (CNE) will use VUPE to monitor the different stages of the call.

Applicants may choose one of the following options:

Option 1: No prior application – submit a fully completed and signed application form.

Option 2: With prior application – submit, through the electronic filing system, the corresponding form indicating prior application.

Calendar for the determination of the granting of electricity generation permits derived from the call for applications.