Mexico?s First 50 MW Photovoltaic Solar Energy Plant

SolFocus announced the launch of Mexico’s first 50 MW solar power plant in Baja California, a joint project between Mexico’s Grupo Musa, and US-based Synergy Technologies and SolFocus. Though Mexico’s renewable energy sector has historically focused more on wind energy, the launch of this new solar power plant opens the doors to new solar energy investments in Mexico.

“Mexico has been successful with wind energy, and now this large solar project will support our energy infrastructure and economic development efforts in the very near future,” said David Muñoz, Director General of the Baja California State Commission of Energy.

According to a press release by SolFocus, the solar power plant will begin construction in late 2012 in 50 MW phases, reaching a planned 450 MW total capacity before the end of 2013.

The solar power plant will be built on Grupo Musa-owned land near Tecate, Baja California.

“While Tecate is a solar-rich region, the hot temperatures make it a challenging environment for traditional solar equipment,” said Synergy Technologies CEO Matt Piell. “We decided to use the advanced, high-efficiency CPV equipment from SolFocus in order to reduce the amount of equipment required, have systems which operate at top performance even in these hot temperatures, and improve the overall financial economics of the project.”

Mark Crowley, SolFocus CEO, added, “Building on the track record of SolFocus projects in the southwest U.S. and Mexico, this project in Mexico will turn dominant land into jobs and low-cost, reliable electricity.”

The project has been a collaborative effort of both public and private enterprises, including support from ProMéxico, Asian Pacific Development Corporation and international financing corporation FINEXIM.

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