In 2022, the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) presented the Green Hydrogen Pilot project in Sonora. However, experts believe that this sector is in its infancy and will require time for development.
Green hydrogen is a fuel obtained from water and renewable electricity, considered a clean energy source that does not emit CO2 and has been a priority in the green transition in Europe. Despite this, progress in Mexico is slow. Although some projects have already started, they face an environment where optimal conditions for development do not yet exist, and few companies are willing to invest due to perceived low profitability at present.
Gonzalo Monroy, a consultant, stated: "There is no market, there is no demand." Despite government efforts to promote these projects, there are still no solid advances. On the other hand, Arturo Carranza, a specialist from Akza Advisors, mentioned that the technology for generating renewable energy and electrolyzers is costly.
In Mexico, there are private pilot projects in collaboration with international partners in several states such as Oaxaca, Campeche, Guanajuato, Sinaloa, Sonora, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Durango, Yucatán, Michoacán, and San Luis Potosí, with funding mainly from Norwegian companies. Notably, there is a project in Oaxaca that uses solar and wind energy to produce green hydrogen.
So far, only one government project has been implemented since the López Obrador administration. The possibility of using green hydrogen in up to 20% mixture with natural gas in some power plants is being considered. Despite the investments made by 2023, no information is available about its progress.
Nationally, there are 24 clean hydrogen projects, including one pilot led by the CFE since 2022. Claudia Sheinbaum has promised to accelerate the energy transition of Pemex and CFE, focusing on green hydrogen and lithium. In the country, the distribution and storage infrastructure for these resources is insufficient and demand is low, which presents an additional challenge to overcome.
Despite the obstacles, some projects are taking their first steps in Mexico, marking the beginning of a more sustainable energy future. The implementation of a solid plan and effective regulation in this area are key to the advancement of these projects under the current administration.
