ABSTRACT
Mexico is undoubtedly committed to address climate change as demonstrated by its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) emission reduction targets. While there exist various energy technologies that could contribute to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, Mexican authorities have indicated that priority should be given to those that simultaneously derive in health and well-being co-benefits to the population. This implies that the chosen technologies should contribute to build a sustainable electricity mix that equally considers the socio-economic, environmental and social impacts. In this context, the goal of this chapter is to use the Framework for Integrated Sustainability Assessment (FISA) to assess the three types of impacts associated to an alternative future electricity mix scenario in Mexico where Natural Gas Combined Cycle (NGCC) electricity generation is partially substituted by Solar Thermal Electricity (STE). Some of the results show that, when substituting 9.5 TWh of NGCC electricity by STE, around 6 Mt of C02eq emissions would be reduced. Additionally, positive socioeconomic impacts along the supply chain would be achieved such as an increase in the added value creation of $87 million and an additional $35 million of income generation. Furthermore, a decrease of current existing social risks in Mexico would be achieved. In this sense, from a sustainability point of view, decision makers should pay more attention to the potential role and associated benefits that STE could play in the future Mexican electricity mix.
