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Mexico adds 447 MW of distributed generation in the first half of 2026 and exceeds 5600 MW of installed capacity

Energía Estratégica4 min readBy Emilia Lardizabal
Mexico adds 447 MW of distributed generation in the first half of 2026 and exceeds 5600 MW of installed capacity

Mexico added 447.47 MW of distributed generation capacity during the first half of 2026 , reaching a cumulative capacity of 5,675.47 MW , according to the latest statistics from the National Energy Commission (CNE). This represents an 8.56% increase compared to the 5,228 MW recorded at the end of 2025.

This expansion is also reflected in the volume of capital associated with the sector. According to the agency, the estimated cumulative investment amounts to $14,582.53 million , of which $14,456.66 million corresponds to photovoltaic solar systems, a technology that practically dominates the market.

The new official balance records 53,087 additional applications processed between January and June , bringing the national total to 655,417 interconnections under the distributed generation regime implemented since 2017.

If the records of the old Small and Medium Scale Interconnection Requests (SIPyME) scheme are included, the historical capacity amounts to 5,923.06 MW , with 684,973 requests served since 2007.

In this way, Mexico is approaching 6 GW of small-scale electricity generation, with a sustained expansion both in the number of connections and in incorporated power.

The CNE report also shows that, between 2017 and 2025, the applications served registered a compound annual growth rate of 40.49% , while the accumulated capacity advanced at a rate of 40.95%.

Compared to the end of 2025, when there were 5,189.71 MW and 600,651 applications, the segment added 485.76 MW and 54,766 new contracts in six months. This represents a 9.4% increase in capacity and a 9.1% increase in the number of installations. The segment's sustained growth translates into a cumulative capacity that already exceeds that of several large-scale conventional power plants and strengthens the reliability and resilience of the National Electric System.

In terms of investments, the previous report estimated a cumulative volume exceeding $13.335 billion , while the new statistics place that value above $14.582 billion.

Solar energy accounts for US$14.456 billion and Jalisco leads in installations

The technological composition of the Mexican market confirms the predominance of photovoltaic solar energy.

According to the generation matrix published by the CNE, photovoltaic systems accumulate 5,649.34 MW distributed in 655,124 applications served , which is equivalent to 99.54% of the distributed generation capacity.

The estimated investment for this technology reaches $14,456.66 million , calculated on a capital cost of $2,559 per kW installed.

Other technologies maintain a considerably smaller share.

Biogas adds up to 20.50 MW and an estimated investment of 105.66 million dollars, followed by biomass, with 3.11 MW and 16.03 million dollars.

Meanwhile, wind turbines reach 1.01 MW and represent an investment of 2.18 million dollars, while cogeneration brings together 1.36 MW and 1.81 million dollars.

Internal combustion, hydraulic turbines and gas turbines complete the mix, with capacities of less than 0.1 MW each.

Concentration also appears in the territorial distribution of interconnections.

Jalisco leads the national ranking with 808.58 MW and 107,285 applications served , concentrating 14.25% of the capacity and 16.37% of the country's registrations.

Nuevo León follows, with 596.22 MW and 75,933 applications , equivalent to 10.50% of the accumulated power.

Chihuahua ranks third with 424.85 MW, while Guanajuato registers 373.77 MW and Coahuila reaches 273.60 MW.

Together, these five states account for 2,477.02 MW, equivalent to 43.64% of all distributed generation recorded by the CNE .

The ranking continues with Michoacán, which registers 257.69 MW; State of Mexico, with 250.73 MW; Sonora, with 240.24 MW; Yucatán, with 224.35 MW; and Mexico City, with 204.94 MW.

Statistics also allow us to identify differences in the size of the facilities.

The national average is 8.66 kW per request , although in Jalisco it is approximately 7.54 kW, compared to 14.71 kW in Sinaloa and 12.84 kW in the State of Mexico.

By region, North-Bajío has the highest accumulated capacity, with 1,436.09 MW , followed by West, with 1,422.43 MW; Central-East, with 1,411.95 MW; and Northwest, with 1,405 MW.

Frequently asked questions

How much distributed generation capacity did Mexico add in the first half of 2026 according to CNE statistics?

Mexico added 447.47 MW of distributed generation capacity during the first half of 2026. This expansion brought the cumulative national capacity to 5,675.47 MW, representing an 8.56% increase from the end of 2025.

What is the estimated cumulative investment in Mexico's distributed generation sector, and which technology dominates this market segment?

The estimated cumulative investment in the sector amounts to $14,582.53 million, with photovoltaic solar systems accounting for $14,456.66 million. Solar energy practically dominates the market, accumulating 5,649.34 MW of installed capacity.

Which Mexican region holds the highest accumulated distributed generation capacity, and what is the national average power per interconnection request?

The North-Bajío region holds the highest accumulated capacity at 1,436.09 MW, followed closely by the West region. The national average power per interconnection request is 8.66 kW, though this varies significantly by state.