Interconnected self-consumption generation: efficient energy for Mexican industry

Given the volatility of costs and excess energy demand, the delayed upgrade of the national electrical infrastructure, and the growing need to meet sustainability (ESG) goals in Mexico, the interconnected self-consumption generation scheme emerges as a high-impact technical and financial solution. This alternative allows industrial companies to generate their own electricity reliably and with the backing of the national grid.

In addition, the recent update of the Electricity Sector Law (LSE) and the new guidelines issued by the National Energy Commission (CNE) have strengthened this interconnected self-consumption model, simplifying its implementation and providing legal certainty to generating companies.

What is interconnected self-consumption generation?

First, self-consumption is considered to be generation by a power plant with a capacity equal to or greater than 0.7 MW, intended to meet the needs of the generation permit holder. According to the Electricity Sector Law (LSE) and CNE guidelines, power plants with a capacity of 0.7 to 20 MW can access a simplified authorization process.

Interconnected self-consumption is an on-site electricity generation model that allows companies to produce their own energy within their facilities, using renewable sources such as solar or wind power and hybrid schemes with energy storage (BESS). Its main feature is that the power plant is connected to the National Transmission Grid (RNT), which guarantees operational flexibility and backup in the event of variations in demand or intermittency of the renewable source.

How does an interconnected self-consumption system work?

During operation, the system prioritizes the internal use of the energy generated to meet the demand of the plant or industrial company. Although it is connected to the national grid, it does not depend on it as its main source, since its purpose is self-supply.

When generation exceeds consumption, the surplus is exported to the National Electric System (SEN) and, according to current regulations, is delivered exclusively to the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE). Conversely, when production is insufficient (due to low irradiation, demand peaks, or equipment maintenance), the facility can import energy from the grid as backup or resort to its storage system to maintain operational continuity.

This bidirectional flow of energy is what distinguishes interconnected self-consumption, combining energy autonomy with regulated backup, ensuring efficiency, stability, and reliability in industrial processes.

Benefits of interconnected self-consumption in businesses and industries

Implementing an interconnected self-consumption scheme brings several technical and economic benefits, especially in industrial companies with high energy demand:

• Independence and stability of energy costs: by generating their own electricity, companies reduce their exposure to tariff fluctuations in the wholesale electricity market (MEM) and transmission and distribution charges, achieving a more stable and predictable effective tariff in the long term.

• Operational continuity and energy security: on-site generation helps reduce vulnerability to failures or interruptions in the public grid supply, ensuring 24/7 operations, which is a critical factor in the context of nearshoring.

• Sustainability and ESG: if self-consumption uses renewable sources (solar, wind, efficient cogeneration), it facilitates control of the energy source, improving traceability and compliance with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives.

• Efficient use of infrastructure: optimizing investment in local energy infrastructure and decentralizing generation means less saturation in distribution networks close to the center of consumption. In addition, surpluses can be fed into the grid or sold, generating additional returns or income.

Requirements for implementing an interconnected generation system in Mexico

The new Regulations of the Electricity Sector Law published on October 3, 2025, establish that all interconnected self-consumption plants with a capacity equal to or greater than 0.7 MW require a generation permit issued by the National Energy Commission (CNE).

Additionally, the applicant must submit:

• Official form with a technical description of the project indicating: technology, capacity, and georeferenced location.
• Single-line diagram of the interconnection point, installation and operation schedule.
• Permit holder details: legal representation and corporate information.
• If generation is intermittent, a backup or storage system must be included.

According to the official document, plants with a capacity between 0.7 and 20 MW will be eligible for the simplified procedure, designed to streamline approval and promote industrial distributed energy projects under efficient and safe self-consumption schemes.

How does self-consumption complement Industronic’s solutions?

Interconnected self-consumption projects require precise integration between generation, storage, backup, and energy monitoring. In this process, Industronic’s solutions provide technology at each critical stage:

1. Generation: solar energy systems provide a primary renewable source for the plant or industrial facility.
2. Management and monitoring: energy monitors record electrical flow in real time, optimizing the balance between consumption, generation, and export of surpluses.
3. Backup and continuity: UPS systems ensure uninterrupted power in the event of failures, protecting sensitive equipment and critical processes.
4. Energy storage: Lithium-ion battery banks and BESS systems store surplus energy, stabilize the internal grid, and guarantee backup during low production times.

Together, these technologies position Industronic as a comprehensive ally for Mexican industry in the transition toward self-sufficiency and energy efficiency.

Trends and future of interconnected self-consumption in Mexico

The future of interconnected self-consumption in Mexico is moving toward flexibility and technological integration. Industrial demand for reliable and sustainable energy, driven by phenomena such as nearshoring, is also redefining the market.

Now, with the recent enactment of the Electricity Sector Law 2025, self-consumption is consolidating as a formal, modern, and regulated scheme that promotes key trends such as:

• Hybrid systems and storage: Many industries are expected to adopt schemes that combine renewable energy + storage + backup, seeking energy continuity and self-sufficiency, especially in the face of rising costs and electricity rate volatility.
• Digitization and smart management: Energy management will move toward smart private network solutions that integrate control, automation, generation, and storage, optimizing each kWh consumed and increasing plant resilience.
• Flexible schemes: Regulation may evolve with methodologies for selling surpluses, contract models for backup, incentives for storage, batteries, cogeneration, etc., opening up new business opportunities for industrial suppliers.

Frequently asked questions about interconnected self-consumption generation

What benefits does interconnected self-consumption generation offer businesses?

Among the benefits that interconnected self-consumption generation offers companies are significant savings in energy costs—by reducing the purchase of electricity from the CFE—long-term tariff certainty and stability, as well as greater independence and operational resilience in the event of power grid failures or variations.

This model also allows for progress in meeting sustainability (ESG) goals, especially when integrated with clean sources and energy-efficient technologies.

What is the difference between isolated and interconnected self-consumption?

The main difference between interconnected self-consumption and isolated self-consumption lies in their relationship with the national power grid. The former operates connected to the National Distribution or Transmission Grid, using the grid as a backup and feeding in surpluses when generation exceeds consumption. In contrast, isolated self-consumption operates without a connection to the grid, relying entirely on its own generation and energy storage to ensure 24/7 supply.

What is needed to install a self-consumption system in Mexico?

For a plant between 0.7 and 20 MW, the following is required: a generation permit from the CNE; an interconnection contract; submission of the official form with technical data, georeferenced location, and single-line diagram; a work program; a business plan; backup information if generation is intermittent; and a list of the loads or users that will be supplied with the generated energy.