Hydropower remains the largest source of renewable energy in Mexico, making up about 80 percent of the country’s renewable energy supply. At the end of 2020, roughly 15 per cent of the country’s total installed capacity was hydropower, accounting for 12 per cent of all sources of electricity generation. The country has an installed hydropower capacity of 12,614 MW and an estimated 27,000 MW of economically feasible hydropower potential.

The Mexican government is focused on increasing hydropower capacity through the rehabilitation and modernisation of CFE's existing assets. In 2021, the bidding process began to modernise the first nine hydroelectric plants. In 2022, the bidding processes for four mini-hydroelectric power plants and three dam facilities will continue and CFE will carry out modernisation studies of 16 mini-hydroelectric plants. The culmination of these efforts is expected to result in an increase of hydropower generation capacity by over 300 MW.

Mexico continues to pursue its ambitious goals for increasing the country’s share of renewable energy sources within its overall generation portfolio. #It has pledged to deploy a further 30 gigawatts in renewable energy capacity by 2030.

Mexico is integrated within the Central American Electrical Interconnection System (SIEPAC). The interconnection between Mexico and Guatemala is already fully operational, whilst that between Panama and Colombia is in the design phase; the extra-regional interconnection aims to establish a 98.6 kilometre long transmission line with a generation capacity of 400 KW. In addition to the Baja California-Sonora, Oaxaca-Mexico City and Baja California-Sonora transmission lines, Mexico is also finalising studies to auction two underwater transmission lines.

This country profile is featured in the 2022 Hydropower Status Report. Download the report: hydropower.org/statusreport