Mexico solar, wind generation capacity seen increasing 170% by 2020

Mexico's solar and wind power generation capacity will increase 170%, or by 4,956MW, between now and 2020 thanks to two auctions held last year and another scheduled for April, energy minister Pedro Joaquín Coldwell (pictured) said during an energy conference in Mexico City.

The first two auctions secured US$6.6bn in investment for electricity generation, and will result in the construction of 52 power stations by 34 companies or consortiums. These will benefit 15 of the country's 32 states.

The government's next challenge is to eliminate so-called energy poverty by bringing electricity to the 1.8mn people who are currently not connected to the grid, Coldwell said at the event, held on Wednesday. Authorities want to achieve the goal by 2021.

Coldwell said that, to complement the growth of the renewables industry as part of Mexico's commitments to increasing clean energy's share of the power matrix, as stipulated by the country's energy transition law, the government will award grants to 60,000 students by 2018 for training in renewable energy innovation and technology.