Nueva era de electrificación y energías limpias; México se rezaga
Top line
The world is accelerating towards clean energy and electrification, significantly reducing emissions, while Mexico's energy policies are reportedly hindering progress and increasing fossil fuel reliance.
Summary
The world is entering a new era of electrification driven by the irreversible growth of clean energy, significantly bolstering the fight against global warming. Global electricity demand is rising at 3.6% annually, fueled by industrial automation, electric vehicles, and new technologies, with emerging economies like China leading the expansion. Clean energy sources have become cost-competitive with coal, surpassing it in generation and projected to grow substantially, alongside nuclear power, to meet approximately half of global electricity needs by 2030. This transition necessitates modernizing electrical grids and expanding energy storage capabilities, with battery costs plummeting. However, Mexico faces a divergent path, with its clean energy share declining due to government policies that favor state monopolies and hinder private investment, leading to increased emissions and potential supply shortfalls, contrary to positive global trends and emissions reductions.
Highlights
- Global electricity demand is growing at 3.6% annually, outpacing economic and total energy growth.
- Key drivers for increased electricity demand include industrial automation, the growing electric vehicle fleet, new domestic and service uses, and data centers.
- Mexico's annual electricity consumption is approximately 300 Terawatt-hours, representing over 1% of the global total, with projected growth of 2% to 3% annually.
- There are significant doubts about Mexico's ability to meet future electricity demand due to government policies that discourage investment and private electricity generation.
- Emerging Asian countries, particularly China, account for a substantial portion (nearly half) of the projected global energy consumption growth over the next five years.
- For the first time, clean energy sources are projected to surpass coal in electricity generation globally, driven by spectacular cost reductions.
- Coal usage in electricity generation has decreased in China and India as of 2025.
- Global clean energy generation is expected to grow by 1,000 Terawatt-hours annually by 2030, representing an 8% yearly increase.
- By the end of the decade, clean energy and nuclear power are forecast to constitute roughly half of the world's total electricity production.
- Mexico has failed to meet its 2024 target of 35% clean energy, with its current share estimated to be around 22%, due to state monopoly privileges and obstructions to private generation.
- Global nuclear power generation reached a record in 2025 and is expected to continue growing due to increased production in France and new reactors in China and India.
- Nuclear energy is regaining strategic importance for reasons of cost, reliability, security, energy sovereignty, and its role in combating climate change.
- Nuclear energy, renewables, and natural gas are predicted to satisfy all additional global electricity demand over the next five years, displacing coal.
- The global transition to electrification necessitates the expansion of smart, flexible electrical grids and systems capable of managing increased demand and integrating intermittent renewable sources.
- Obstacles inhibiting investment and operation of new electricity generation and energy storage projects must be removed.
- Mexico's grid expansion is reportedly limited by ideological reasons, leading to bottlenecks, congestion, frequent blackouts, and deterring private investment.
- Improvements in system efficiency are needed, including flexible contracts, dynamic pricing, and advanced voltage/frequency control.
- Battery storage is becoming increasingly vital for system stability, especially in regions with high penetration of intermittent renewables (e.g., California, Texas, Germany, Australia, Spain, UK).
- The cost of batteries has significantly decreased, from $360 USD per kWh in 2019 to $120 USD per kWh in 2025, enhancing their competitiveness.
- Global emissions from the electricity sector may have peaked at an annual 14 billion tons of CO2 and are beginning to decline due to the rise of clean and nuclear energy.
- The CO2 intensity of the global electricity sector has decreased by 14% over the past decade and is projected to continue its downward trend.
- In contrast to global trends, Mexico's electricity sector emissions have increased since 2021 due to increased reliance on fossil fuels and reduced renewable energy, attributed to the government's energy counter-reform.
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