School of Management and Law Whitepaper Mexico Cleantech Center for Business in the Americas Peter Qvist-Sørensen / Ronny Siev Publisher ZHAW School of Management and Law Stadthausstrasse 14 P.O. Box CH-8401 Winterthur Switzerland Center for Business in the Americas https://www.zhaw.ch/en/sml/institutes-centres/imi/competence-centers-teams/center-for-business-in-the-americas/ Contact Peter Qvist-Sørensen, Head Center for Business in the Americas
[email protected] March 2017 Copyright © 2017 ZHAW School of Management and Law All rights reserved. Nothing from this publication may be reproduced, stored in computerized systems, or published in any form or in any manner, including electronic, mechanical, reprographic, or photographic, without prior written permission from the publisher. A transfer to third parties is prohibited. Executive Summary Environmental protection is a new and increasingly important concept in Mexican policy making. In addition, the country needs to improve its insufficient and ageing infrastructure. New policies, laws and regulations support a new mindset to tackle these important issues. With economic growth the need for energy is increasing. The Mexican energy reform, which is currently being implemented, will end the state monopoly and liberalize the market. Diversification of energy sources, growth of renewable energy and reduction of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases are among the government’s long-term goals for the coming 20 years. Auctions for contracts in wind, solar and geothermal energy started in March 2016, initializing the wholesale market and attracting large international energy companies into Mexico. In line with the Mexican government’s initiatives, the three leaders of the NAFTA countries presented in June 2016 the North American Climate, Clean Energy and Environment Partnership Action Plan, to align their policies regarding clean energy, energy efficiency and emission goals.