Mexico City launches plan to install 350 MW of solar to rein in pollution

The Mexico City government launched on Saturday a city-wide solar programme to support schemes that will add up to 350 MW of green capacity over the next five years.

The initiative, called Ciudad Solar, is backed with funds totalling MXN 7.93 billion (USD 413.9m/EUR 370.3m) with the World Bank providing around MXN 600 million. The remainder is coming from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Mexican government-owned development bank Nacional Financiera (NAFIN) and Mexico City.

The Ciudad Solar, or Solar City, plan will bankroll the installation of solar heaters and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems across the Mexican capital’s homes and businesses between 2019 and 2024. Some 10,000 micro-enterprises and homes and 300 city government buildings are planned to benefit from the installation of PV systems of below 500 kWp. These projects will add 200 MW in total.

The programme will also target 150 MW of new capacity from PV systems bigger than 500 kWp. This group will include a 25-MW rooftop scheme at the city’s wholesale market Centro de Abasto and a 4-MW solar project to power all stations in the light rail system.

The solar initiative, despite its name, will also include bioenergy and energy efficiency projects and one 3-MW mini-hydropower plant as the city seeks to curb pollution. Mexico City mayor Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo said at Saturday’s presentation of the plan that the goal was to avoid carbon dioxide (CO2) emission of 2 million tonnes.

(MXN 100 = USD 5.22/EUR 4.67)

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