The headline number: 38% renewables by 2030

Mexico's electricity grid will source at least 38% of its power from renewable sources by the end of President Claudia Sheinbaum's term, according to her accountability report delivered May 31. That represents a sharp jump from the current 24%.

To reach this target, the government will add 32,000 megawatts of capacity to the system over the next four years, according to reporting by Infobea. The strategy stacks six new combined-cycle plants from state oil company Pemex and utility CFE, totaling 3,000 MW, alongside expanded solar and wind generation plus new geothermal and green hydrogen projects. Sheinbaum framed the initiative as a cornerstone of energy sovereignty, linked directly to Pemex's financial turnaround.

The numbers backing the ambition

Pemex slashed its debt by $20 billion. The national refining system now processes over 1.3 million barrels per day. Meanwhile, 13,893 communities gained access to electricity for the first time. Sheinbaum's message was unambiguous: "Mexico accepts no outside interference. We are a free, independent, and sovereign nation."

The bottleneck: investment and auctions

The vulnerability lies in funding. Despite the 38% renewable target, Pemex and CFE's capital spending plummeted 44% in the first four months of 2026, straining the ambition. The next critical test arrives this fall when CENACE, Mexico's grid operator, holds an electricity capacity auction to determine how many private megawatts enter the system and at what price.

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