On December 31, 2021, the Grid Code 2.0, the update of the Mexican Electric Grid Code, a technical regulation of the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) that was first issued on April 8, 2016, was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation.
The CRE's Grid Code (CR) stipulates the technical, administrative and legal requirements necessary for the proper development of the National Electric System (SEN) processes.
The Mexican SEN is one of the most complex in the world and provides electricity to 128 million people throughout 2 million square kilometers of national territory, achieving a service coverage of 98.7%, according to Mexican Government figures. The SEN is made up of the National Transmission Network (RNT), the General Distribution Networks (RGD), the Power Plants that supply electricity to the RNT and the RGD, as well as the equipment and facilities of the National Energy Control Center (Cenace), a decentralized public agency in charge of the operational control of the National Electric System.
Currently, the SEN has a large infrastructure: around 3 thousand power transformers, 1.5 million distribution transformers, 2 thousand electrical substations and more than 537 thousand kilometers of medium voltage lines.
The Grid Code is a document that mediates between the interests of the private sector and the public sector, with the main objective of guaranteeing the stability of the electric grid.
In Mexico, industries and large consumers (Load Centers) must comply with the requirements of the Grid Code in aspects related to power factor, voltage, frequency and power quality, among others. It should be clarified that, although this code was previously applied to high voltage companies, it currently applies to all load centers with a contracted capacity of more than 1 megawatt.
Among other characteristics, it establishes that: under normal operating conditions, the voltage must range from 105 to 95. Likewise, the short circuit test horizon must be three years, when previously it was six years. As for the power factor, with the Grid Code 2.0, the requirement is to maintain it at 95% (a figure that will rise to 97% as of 2026).
Grid Code 2.0 also added a 50% limit on total demand distortion (or TDD), which assesses harmonic currents between the user and the power supply. In addition, the new code calls for instantaneous voltage variations to be 0.8 rather than 0.6, and calls for voltage unbalance not to exceed 2%.
From the beginning of 2022, all companies have the obligation to be informed about the changes of the new CFE Grid Code to avoid fines and lead the country towards a National Electric System that is increasingly cleaner and more efficient, as it stabilizes the electric grids and opens the doors to a greater use of renewable energies.
In this sense, he emphasizes that Quartux's storage system technology improves the quality of energy, in compliance with the Grid Code, since energy storage systems make the electric grid more stable, which guarantees energy quality and reduces blackouts.
In the country's industrial sector, one of the problems that has the greatest impact on productivity is blackouts, and Quartux's customized control software reduces grid congestion through its storage system. In addition, its platform helps generate a direct economic bonus, changes the consumption curve, replaces expensive energy with cheaper and cleaner energy, and protects companies and industries from grid outages.
Energy storage is seen by the country's companies and industries as a smart solution to comply with the Grid Code, while helping to increase business opportunities due to its great benefits throughout the energy sector value chain.
Greater compliance with the Grid Code ensures that the power grid is more reliable and reduces the risk of blackouts, which has a positive impact on generators and load centers.
In this sense, for Quartux, the policies of the Grid Code 2.0 mean a "win-win" for all members of the SEN and, with the implementation of intelligent solutions such as Quartux's system, progress will be made in the short term towards a more stable grid, which allows us to glimpse an encouraging future for the country's energy sector.
