Identification of applicable regulation and public policy gaps regarding marine renewable energy in Mexico

Abstract

Integrating renewables into the energy matrix enables efficient energy systems and meets the UN Sustainable Development Goals 7) affordable and clean energy, 9) industry, innovation, and infrastructure, 12) responsible production and use, and 13) climate action. A specific case is the use of marine renewable energy (MRE) for power supply in coastal cities affected by environmental and anthropogenic threats. MRE can be harnessed from waves, currents, offshore wind, and thermal and salinity gradients. In emerging economies, the marine renewable energy industry is at different stages from quantifying the potential, to device development, or testing. Currently, in Mexico, there is a wide range of marine energy projects despite the technological advances there is no framework for the device’s deployment.As a guide for developers, this article presents the current Mexican legislation on MRE. The review of the legislation has identified some niche opportunities that were highlighted during the research; legal pathway for planning and operational purposes.