37-ecat E-Catalog
80-services Services
39-magazine Magazine
36-downloads Downloads
35-contact Contact
47-chevron-right
20-close First-Hand News?

Obtain news and background information about sealing technology, get in touch with innovative products – subscribe to the free e-mail newsletter.

solar panel

Ambitious Goals for Climate Protection

Mexico is the German national team’s opening World Cup opponent this weekend. The Latin American country is one of the perennial World Cup contenders and would like to reach the knockout phase in Russia. But when it comes to the environment and sustainability, it has set equally ambitious goals.

Fossil fuels still have a dominant position in Mexico’s energy mix. It gets about 15 percent of its electricity from hydropower and other renewable sources. But the country is shifting toward wind power and geothermal energy for its electricity and hot water while taking advantage of its huge potential for solar energy. It is also taking an ambitious, constructive approach in its environmental and climate policies. This is underscored by its energy reforms in 2013, which in part call for a minimum share of non-fossil energy sources. They are designed to help the country boost its share of clean energy to at least 35 percent by 2024. This would include nuclear power, which Mexico counts as a clean energy source. Its share of nuclear energy now stands at 4.5 percent.

Location in Windy, Sunny Zones Is a Plus

Mexico has also set ambitious goals for reductions in greenhouse gases. By 2020, it is supposed to decrease them by about 30 percent compared to the year 2000, and by 50 percent by 2050. Its geography is serving it in good stead. Mexico is one of the top five countries for the exploitation of solar energy thanks to its position in the so-called Sun Belt. This year, it has invited bids on renewable-energy projects totaling 13 gigawatts – its fourth invitation on this scale since 2015. The largest foreign investors in the renewable energy segment have been Spain, the United States and Germany. For example, the German-Spanish wind turbine manufacturer Siemens Gamesa has installed about 1,300 facilities in Mexico since 1999 and has just introduced the latest model line for the market. Experts believe Mexico has expansion reserves of more than 70 gigawatts for wind power and 40 gigawatts for geothermal energy, with the potential for another 53 gigawatts for hydropower.

Windmill

Mexico is striving to diversify its supplies to help it achieve its climate goals. These supplies are less dependent on oil despite the country’s considerable reserves. Natural gas or steam power plants are expected to gradually replace its older, dirtier coal-burning plants; the new ones are highly efficient and flexible. Meanwhile, a higher degree of decentralization is possible with a broader energy mix. Fossil fuels are being used more economically and efficiently due to the systematic expansion of cogeneration. The combined generation of heat and power is expected to make a major contribution to Mexico’s climate efforts due to increased efficiency.

The use of solar thermal energy could reduce private natural gas consumption by up to 80 percent, according to a study by the Tecnológico de Monterrey university. Due to Mexico’s location, the technology is well suited for daily, decentralized and emission-free water heating. Between 2008 and 2014, the installed surface for solar thermal energy nearly tripled to almost 3 million square meters. Most Mexicans live in single-family houses, and more than half of all solar thermal facilities provide hot water to residential areas. So, it is likely that Mexico will be able to promote and accelerate this trend — at a manageable cost.

Efforts in Electric Mobility

Personal and freight transportation is still Mexico’s greatest environmental challenge. Especially in major cities, cars, motorcycles, minibuses and diesel trucks clog the streets and produce massive amounts of exhaust. One positive sign is a Mexican startup’s announcement that it is building an electric compact car, the Zacua. After its launch phase, the goal is to build 2,000 cars a year in the medium-term – the country is still awaiting its electric-mobility breakthrough. Over the first nine months of 2017, just 7,000 hybrids and 197 battery-electric vehicles were sold in Mexico, even though generous tax advantages are available to every buyer at the time of purchase. The biggest obstacles to electric mobility are the cars’ relatively high purchase prices, long charging times and relatively affordable fossil fuels. But temporary driving bans in Mexico City could prove to be a powerful incentive for the purchase of electric cars as time goes on. The prohibitions on fossil-fuel-burning cars can be imposed when smog levels are high. This could lead more residents to see the benefits of electric mobility.

The future will run on electricity. Freudenberg Sealing Technologies is pressing ahead with innovations in electric mobility. Read more.

Charged up for the environment! Read more about sealing solutions for renewable energy, energy transmission and distribution.

More Stories About Renewable Energy

Mockup of ESSENTIAL magazine issue November 2023

Our Magazine

Technologies and trends that impact our business.

Order Now!

Login with your access data

* mandatory field

Forgot your password? Click here to reset.

Or

Don’t have an account yet? Register now!

You've logged in successfully.

Register and get access to exclusive content

Your benefits

  • Download exclusive documents such as Solution Sheets
  • Live Webinare/On-Demand Recordings on the beverage and food industry
  • Virtual tours of production facilities
  • Resistance tools for selecting the right material

Security Level

* mandatory field

Or

Do you already have an account? Continue to Login.

Thank you. Your subscription was successful.

We have sent you an e-mail. Please click on the included activation link to complete the registration.

We have sent you an email. Please click on the included link to assign a new password.

Have you forgotten your password?

Please enter your email address to reset it.

* mandatory field

The form has been successfully sent.

We have sent you an email. Please click on the included link to assign a new password.