In Mexico’s first-ever private power auction, renewable energy developers won contracts to produce 1.7GW of power.

Seven wind and solar companies including Enel Green Power, SunPower Systems Mexico and Recurrent Energy won 15-year contracts to rights to provide the state with renewable power.

Eleven packages of wind and solar projects were sold at an average price of US$41.80 (£28.98) per megawatt-hour. The projects are set to start in 2018.

The Mexican government aims to obtain 35% of its energy from clean sources by 2024, a 25% increase on current levels. A second power auction is scheduled for April.