Renewable energy generation needs to triple to reach 45% clean energy

Tripling renewable generation in five years is possible

For clean energy to cover 45% of electricity demand in 2030, it is estimated that an additional installed capacity of solar (+35.7 GW) and wind (+10.3 GW) of 46 GW is required, which would result in the generation of 134 TWh in 2030 – more than triple the electricity produced by these sources in 2024. This would mean reaching a 33.2% share of solar and wind energy in electricity generation in 2030, multiplying the current installed capacity by four.

Tripling renewable energy generation in five years is possible. There are clear examples in the region, and even in the country itself, which demonstrate that accelerated growth in the share of solar and wind energy in national electricity generation is possible.

The growth of solar energy in some countries in the region has been remarkable. Chile almost tripled its solar generation over the last five years, increasing electricity generated from this renewable source by 64 TWh, which allowed it to reach a 22.3% share. Brazil, in the same period, went from having 1.71% solar generation to a 10.02% share, reaching 74.68 TWh – seven times more than what it generated in 2020. Mexico has already made a remarkable development between 2019 and 2023, almost tripling its solar power generation from 9.96 TWh to 27.14 TWh, allowing solar energy to cover 7.6% of the country’s total electricity demand.

As far as wind energy is concerned, Uruguay in 2013 generated 1.2% with this renewable source and went on to reach 26.2% in 2017, thus multiplying its share almost 22 times in only 5 years. Chile and Brazil doubled their wind power generation between 2020 and 2024, in both cases exceeding 11% of the total electricity generated with wind energy.

These examples show that increasing Mexico’s combined share of solar and wind power generation by 21.3% is possible, allowing it to reach 45% of clean electricity supply by 2030, and strengthening the country’s energy security and independence.

The accelerated construction of renewable energy plants requires agile systems for processing and obtaining permits and licenses for projects. In Mexico, this process can currently take between two and four years. In Brazil it takes between one and two years, while in Uruguay the procedures are more efficient and last between six months and one year on average. To achieve a 45% share of clean electricity generation by 2030, Mexico must create an enabling environment that makes the project licensing process more efficient in all its phases, significantly reducing the time to commission renewable energy plants.

High potential for green job creation

Solar and wind energy projects create direct, indirect and induced jobs during their construction and operation. Direct jobs are linked to installation, operation and maintenance tasks of the generation systems; indirect jobs are related to the supply chains of parts and equipment; and induced jobs are those created by the consumption of goods and services in the project implementation area. 

The rapid growth of renewable energy has the potential to dynamise countries’ economies, promoting the development of local value chains. A new installed capacity of 46 GW of solar and wind energy has the potential to create more than 434,000 direct jobs during the construction and operation phase of the projects. The estimate was made using factors to determine the number of jobs created per installed MW of solar and wind energy, as well as adjustment factors for Mexico based on the national level of development of the renewable energy industry. Details are presented in the methodology.

For the 36% clean energy generation scenario, it is estimated that in total more than 512,000 jobs could be generated in the construction phase, while during the time it takes to operate the electricity generation systems, more than 23,000 jobs could be created. More than 274,000 people would be directly employed in the two phases.

Installing 46 GW of solar and wind power to achieve 45% clean electricity would have a major impact on the creation of new jobs. While the projects are being built, it is estimated that more than 816,000 people would be employed, and once they are in operation, around 37,000 jobs would be created. The direct jobs that would be created in the two phases would be around 434,000.