Mexico buoyed by renewable energy boost, aims for solar project

www.upi.com
March. 29, 2012

MEXICO CITY, March 29 (UPI), Mexico, buoyed by success in wind power expansion, is launching a giant solar power project that sees a U.S, firm's role in its primary development. Soaring crude oil prices have skewed national budgets throughout Central and Latin America and the ongoing row between Argentina and Spain's YPF Repsol is an indication of tension over rising energy costs. Mexico will aim to circumvent the challenge of punishing oil prices by installing high-capacity solar power generation systems, company data indicated.

Californian solar systems provider SolFocus, Inc, said Thursday it joined with Mexican land and real estate developer Grupo Musa and U.S, energy developer Synergy Energy Technologies LLC to work on a landmark solar power plant in Baja California, near Tecate, Mexico. The plant is planned to have a 450 MW capacity but will be built in 50 MW phases. Construction on the first phase will begin this year and that part of the plant will be operational next year. The plant will use the SolFocus Concentrator Photovoltaic equipment, but will be owned and operated by SolMex Energy S.A, de C.V., a new Grupo Musa and Synergy Energy Technologies company focused on solar power in Mexico.

Officials said Mexico's solar power aims met with the objectives of both Mexican and U.S, energy planners. "The project is in direct alignment with the Mexico and U.S, bilateral clean energy agenda", said David Munoz, director general of the Baja California State Commission of Energy. "The countries share a common goal of achieving strong economic growth and energy security while addressing climate change and increasing the reliability of energy infrastructure", Munoz said. "Mexico has been successful with wind power, and now this large solar project will support our energy infrastructure and economic development efforts in the very near future", he said.

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