Over two days, participating leaders and experts discussed everything from technical and regulatory aspects of the energy sector to innovations and strategies for sustainability and economic development.
By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL
The Seventh Energy Meeting, organized by the Nuevo León Energy Cluster in conjunction with EGADE Business School of Tecnológico de Monterrey, explored the energy sector's challenges and opportunities.
The event took place on March 19 and 20 at the EGADE Business School in Monterrey. It featured the participation of academic leaders, executives from the energy industry, consultants, specialists in energy law, and government representatives.
At the opening, Horacio Arredondo, Dean of EGADE Business School, emphasized academia, industry, and government collaboration as key to driving energy innovation and competitiveness.
“The energy sector faces challenges such as climate change, increasing demand, and technological advancements. In light of this reality, there is a need to modernize regulation and accelerate innovation, to strengthen local efforts and foster a more inclusive economy,” he added.
He also recalled the submission of the document “Challenges and opportunities for distributed generation in Mexico” to the Energy Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, reaffirming the leadership and commitment of EGADE Business School to the country’s energy future.
The opening also saw participation from César H. Cadena and Amado Villarreal, President and CEO of the Nuevo León Energy Cluster, respectively, and Alfonso Martínez, head of the State Secretariat of Environment, who delivered the inaugural lecture “Reliable, accessible, and sustainable energy.”
The meeting covered four thematic axes: the analysis and projection of the electric sector, the definition and challenges of energy policy and the hydrocarbons sector, the presentation of advances in energy innovation, and the discussion of strategies for the energy transition towards more sustainable practices.
On its first day, the program, consisting of presentations, lectures, and panels, began with an analysis of the current direction of the electric sector, followed by discussions on business challenges in the sector, highlighting the implications of the power balance market and strategies for cost reduction and CO2 emissions.
Rolando Fuentes, research professor at EGADE Business School, delivered the lecture “Nearshoring and the challenges of the electric sector,” noting that company relocation exacerbates existing problems in the electric energy sector.
Within the electric sector theme, regulatory proposals in energy matters were also highlighted, anticipating policies and trends for the 2024-2030 six-year term.
The second day of the meeting focused on energy policy and the hydrocarbon sector. Régulo Salinas, President of the Energy Commission of the Business Coordinating Council (CCE), proposed an energy policy from the private sector perspective.
Renewable gases or biomethane and the challenges of the hydrocarbon sector were also analyzed.
In another thematic axis, an energy innovation panel was presented. Startups from Israel shared their technological developments, pointing out the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation in the sector.
Energy transition and corporate sustainability were also crucial topics in the event’s discussions, exploring storage alternatives, electromobility in distributed solar generation, and the challenges of electromobility in Mexico.
Additionally, socio-environmental regulation, energy justice, and community development were addressed, emphasizing the need for equitable and sustainable development.
The closing ceremony highlighted the contribution of EGADE Business School through the message of the Associate Dean of Research, Osmar Zavaleta, pointing towards a continuous commitment to energy innovation and sustainability.
“Energy innovation is the key to a more prosperous and sustainable future. From emerging technologies to disruptive business models, innovation is transforming the way we produce, distribute, and consume energy. We must foster a vibrant innovation ecosystem that stimulates creativity and entrepreneurship and allows us to meet the energy challenges we face,” stated Zavaleta.