Industrial energy trends show self-consumption growth in Mexico and solar crisis in Spain

Industrial sectors in Mexico are increasingly turning to energy self-consumption to ensure a predictable electricity supply. High-intensity sectors, including manufacturing, automotive, data centers, mining, and chemical industries, are adopting technologies such as solar panels and storage systems to maintain operational continuity. Currently, Mexico's 477 industrial parks have a combined installed capacity of 13,200 megawatts. This shift is supported by regulatory activity, with the National Energy Commission (CNE) issuing 797 permits in its first ten months of operation.

In contrast, the solar energy sector in Spain is facing a significant financial crisis. Reports indicate the loss of over 12,000 jobs in the solar sector within a single year. The industry group UNEF has requested ICO credits to rescue projects unable to meet debt obligations. The crisis is attributed to a mismatch between simultaneous energy production and demand, coupled with a lack of storage capacity, which drives electricity prices below production costs during peak generation hours. This has led to difficulties in securing bank financing for solar projects.