Security Regulations in Mexican Renewable Energies: Case of Geothermal Projects

Abstract

A\rreview of natural resources existing in México is done. The description of the\rrenewable energies for electricity generation operating at date along the\rcountry, includes hydro, wind, solar, biomass and geothermal, among others. The\rinstalled capacity (to 2012) in México for electric generation from renewable\renergies is equivalent to 22% of total generation capacity. México has\rgeothermal resources, which can be classified as high and low enthalpy, and of\rhot dry rock. To date, the exploitation has focused mainly\ron high enthalpy geothermal fields. Geothermal power plants do not burn fuel,\rpreventing gas emissions helping to reduce global warming and greenhouse\reffect. Security risks in México geothermal fields, as a part of renewable\renergies linked to Smart Grids, are described emphasizing their geographical\rlocations to facilitate the exposure to dangerous events. The results about research on Mexican\rOfficial Norms protecting environment related with geothermal operation\rprojects are shown. The Mexican geothermal projects have developed under rules\rthat provide security to workers and people, avoiding impacts on the\renvironment. However, it was found that it necessarily emphasized\rprevisions to damages and remedial actions for grids due to risks by natural contingencies\r(cyclones, winds, earthquakes) and by artificial causes such as vandalism\r(grids breaking, fire, explosions, etc.). Unfortunately, there are no preventive norms against natural risks. After all the\ranalyses carried out, security must be considered by nature a dynamic and\rever-changing process.