# GIS-Based Wind and Solar Power Assessment in Central Mexico
## 1 Introduction  
Mexico is one of the leading economies in Latin America; the country has a large population, extensive territory and a vast diversity of natural resources. The energy consumption of the country is the second largest in Latin America, only after Brazil; the combination of these factors and the new prominent energy policies give great potential for energy investments [1]. According to information from the National Secretary of Energy (SENER), the National Energy System in Mexico (SEN) is an integrated system that provides service to more than 120 million users, with a network that unites nine regions, including a bidirectionally interconnected system with the United States of America. This system can supply the growing energy demand derived from population and production growth. In 2019, Mexico reached a gross electrical consumption of 324,927 GWh, which represents an increase of 2.1% compared with 2018 [2]. In 2020, the gross national consumption of the SEN decreased by 315,968 GWh, showing a decrease of 2.76% compared with the consumption of 2019. This phenomenon was derived from the suspension of productive activities due to the health emergency caused by COVID-19. However, the growth of gross consumption during the last ten years is reportedly an average of 2.2%; it is expected that this will be approximately up to 500,000 GWh for the year 2035 [3]. Table 1 shows the behavior of gross consumption in Mexico from 2016 to 2020 according to data from the National Electrical System Development Program of Mexico [4]. The installed electrical capacity in Mexico has grown steadily in recent years; currently, the National Energy System in Mexico (SEN) has an installed capacity of approximately 89,479 MWh, including plants from the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and Independent Producers of Electric Power (PIE), Self-supply (AU), Cogeneration (COG), Small Production (PP), Import (IMP), Export (EXP) and Continuous Own Uses (UPC). This capacity supplies the instantaneous maximum demands that occur mainly in the summer months, oscillating around 50,000 MWh; nevertheless, this maximum demand is expected to reach an approximate value of 75,000 MWh, approaching 84% of the total value of installed capacity today. To date, in Mexico, only 29,443 MW of this installed capacity comes from renewable energy sources (REs); therefore, the outlook for these energies in Mexico is promising, and driven by the country's new legislation and energy policies which aim to achieve the energy transition by increasing production and the percentage of participation in the total installed energy capacity [5]. Climate change is no longer a long-term problem; it is currently causing extreme weather conditions worldwide, where significant droughts, new high-temperature records, and an increase in the average number of natural phenomena such as cyclones, hurricanes, and wildfires among others, are being experienced. These changes will have an alarming impact on food and water supplies shortly, as agriculture is one of the industries most affected by these new environmental conditions. The global energy model of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) presented the technical and economic parameters of an energy transition until 2050. This report suggests that by 2050, 86% of electricity generation will be renewable, and 60% will come from solar and wind. These REs would lead to expansion; forecasts for 2050 show a capacity of 14,500 GW for these two technologies alone [6]. Mexico must make a great effort to move from an energy system based on fossil fuels to a system that takes advantage of the tremendous renewable energy potential that the country possesses. According to the renewable energy roadmap for Mexico, REmap2030, Mexico has the potential to generate 280 TWh of RE by 2030, with wind and solar energy as some of its primary sources [1]. The increase in the capacity of REs has been constant. Figure 1 shows the behavior of the total capacity of REs in Mexico over the last ten years [5].