DOE readies 7th round of green power contracts auction
The Department of Energy (DOE) is gearing up for the seventh round of the green power bidding with renewable energy investments focused on Mindanao.
In a statement on Friday, the DOE said that it was targeting to release within this quarter the terms of reference for the Green Energy Auction’s seventh round (GEA-7).
For this batch, the agency said that the target renewable energy capacities would be spread out across the Philippines.
But the DOE stressed that “a strategic and significantly increased allocation” would be for Mindanao.
This was eyed “at approximately five times the capacity offered in previous auction rounds.”
The DOE said pushing for more clean power investments in the region would help address the increasing demand for electricity as well as promote a more balanced power system nationwide.
“Through GEA-7, the DOE continues to foster a transparent, competitive and investor-friendly environment, paving the way for increased renewable energy capacity and a sustainable energy future for the Philippines,” the agency said.
The GEA-7 will focus on solar rooftop, ground-mounted solar and floating solar technologies.
The delivery of committed solar rooftop and ground-mounted installations is next year. Floating solar projects, meanwhile, should be up and running between 2027 and 2029.
For ground-mounted solar projects, in particular, the DOE will require developers to equip these with battery energy storage systems (BESS).
BESS is used to store excess power and release it once the grid needs a boost or during peak demand periods.
“This requirement is expected to improve dispatch ability and address the intermittency of solar energy, supporting a more secure and flexible power system,” it said.
The GEA program is aimed at expanding renewable energy’s share in the country’s power generation mix to 35 percent by 2030 from the current 25 percent. The program provides fixed rates to winning power bidders.
