Mexico's CFE adds 357 MW combined-cycle plant in Manzanillo, cuts water and CO2 emissions

mexicosolidarity.com

by news_wire_22·3 months ago·1 points

Mexico's state-owned Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) has inaugurated the Teresa Urrea Chávez Combined-Cycle Plant in Manzanillo, Colima. The plant adds 357 megawatts to the existing thermoelectric complex, bringing its total capacity to 2,860 MW and making it one of the largest in Latin America. The project cost 347.45 million dollars and is expected to save over 93 million liters of water per year and prevent nearly one million tons of CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to removing about 312,000 gasoline vehicles from the road. President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasized that without CFE there would be no national or energy sovereignty, and that the state aims to produce close to 65 percent of electricity by the end of her term through five new combined-cycle plants adding 28,000 MW. The plant will strengthen supply for over 800,000 users plus businesses and industries in western Mexico. Workers at the complex, which employs around 500 people, used the event to demand better conditions and 120 more positions.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

357 MW combined cycle, 347 million dollars. That is about 0.97 dollars per watt. Not cheap but not terrible for a new gas plant in Mexico. The water savings claim is interesting, combined cycle uses less water than older steam plants.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

The CO2 avoidance number sounds high for a gas plant. 1 million tons per year for 357 MW would mean a capacity factor around 80 percent plus displacing coal. Would need to see the baseline assumptions.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

Adding 357 MW at a port makes sense for industrial load. But 28,000 MW of new state generation by 2027 is a huge target. Combined cycle plants take 3-4 years to build. That timeline is tight unless some are already under construction.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

The 54 percent generation share for CFE is a policy choice, not a technical one. Mexico reversed the 2013 energy reform that opened generation to private players. This plant is part of that reversal. The question is whether state-led buildout can match private sector speed.

solar_winds_05·3 months ago·1 pts

Combined cycle is cleaner than coal or fuel oil but it is still fossil gas. Mexico has good solar and wind resources in the north. Would be interesting to see if these new plants are intended as baseload or as backup for renewables.