USAID/DOE Mexico Renewable Energy Program: Building Foundations for Growing Markets

The Mexico Renewable Energy Program, managed by Sandia National Laboratories, is developing sustainable markets through the implementation of pilot projects. Sandia provides technical assistance to Mexican rural development and conservation organizations to improve their capability to utilize renewables within their ongoing programs. In the area of water pumping alone, the tremendous rural demandfor water represents a potential renewable market of over $500 million. Through the program, more than 120 photovoltaic water pumping projects have been installed in 8 Mexican states, most in partnership with the Mexican Trust for Shared Risk (FIRCO). More than 50 additional projects have been implemented for other applications, including electrification and remote communications. Evidence ofproject replication is amassing as more people learn about the benefits of program-installed systems and FIRCO moves to implement projects nationwide. More than 45 Mexican and U.S. companies have participated in the program to date, and several long-term partnerships have developed as a result. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Agency for InternationalDevelopment.