The Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) issued the Grid Code in 2016, to establish the criteria for efficiency, quality, reliability, continuity, safety and sustainability of the National Electric System (SEN).
It stipulates all the technical-operational requirements to be met by the users of the National Electric System to whom the Grid Code applies, i.e., all those who carry out activities of distribution, consumption, transportation or generation of electric power, as well as the entities in charge of the electric supply or commercialization of electric power.
According to what was established after its publication in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) on April 8, 2016, when the Grid Code comes into force, these rules apply to all users of medium and high voltage: from small businesses with low electricity consumption to load centers (companies or industries) with complex electrical installations and a contracted demand for electricity greater than 1 MW.
Subsequently, as of April 9, 2019, the provisions of the 2019 Grid Code in the DOF become mandatory and all users or load centers that received electric power at medium and high voltage must comply with the Regulatory Manual of Technical Requirements for the Connection of Load Centers of the Grid Code.
Compliance with the Grid Code contributes to the overall stability of Mexico's National Electric System. In this sense, one of its main objectives is that companies and industries connected to the grid do not negatively affect the reliability, quality, continuity, safety and sustainability of Mexico's National Electric System. In the event that load centers do not comply with the regulations of the Grid Code, there are fines that can range from 50,000 to 200,000 minimum wages.
Quartux's lithium-ion industrial battery power storage system helps to improve the power quality of companies and industries. Thanks to our advanced technology and ability to make electrical energy consumption more efficient, at Quartux we help companies stay within the parameters established in the Grid Code, ensuring at all times the good quality of the energy consumed and avoiding costly operational problems, such as fines, penalties or excessive charges.
Energy storage is one of the alternatives to improve the productive processes of companies, generate savings and increase the useful life of the facilities. That is why our software helps companies to be highly efficient in their electricity consumption and allows load centers to maintain their operations in stable conditions while supplying their electricity consumption needs with a decrease in electricity tariff costs.
Last year, the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) made and approved changes to the first regulations, giving way to a second version of this regulation, known as "Grid Code 2.0", which was published in the DOF on December 31, 2021. This 2021 Grid Code establishes the mandatory nature of parameters such as power factor and gives load centers two years to comply. Among its main changes are the following
-Regarding the power factor, the requirement is incorporated to loads connected in medium voltage, which have demands greater than 1 MW contracted. They will have a term of 2 years to comply with it.
-From 2026, the power factor to be complied with is 1.0 95% of the time and 0.97 in arrears.
-Elimination of the concept of application to special loads, which applies to all load centers connected at high and medium voltage that have a demand greater than 1 MW.
-Maximum voltage values are 105% maximum and 95% minimum in normal operation and 110% and 90%, respectively, in different conditions (up to 20 minutes).
Short-circuit levels will be published with a three-year horizon instead of a six-year horizon.
-The maximum load current will be calculated as the average value of the previous 12 months.
-Gives greater certainty to renewable sources or "asynchronous technologies" and provides clarity on the participation of renewable power plants in primary control at low frequency, a fundamental requirement to maintain their reliability within the National Electric System.
-In relation to renewable energy sources and the Grid Code, Mexico keeps open the discussion on the mandatory use of batteries for the storage of this type of energy.
