The Philippines’ DOE has launched the country’s GEA-4 auction round for over 9 GW of solar and wind energy capacity
For the 1st time, it has integrated renewable energy and storage capacity, seeking an additional 1.1 GW of solar and storage
The projects selected will be located in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao regions
The Philippines’ Department of Energy (DOE) has unveiled round 4 of the country’s Green Energy Auction (GEA-4) seeking the addition of 9.378 GW of new solar and onshore wind capacity. In addition, it will also source 1.1 GW of solar and storage projects, making it the 1st auction to integrate renewable energy and energy storage systems (IRESS).
The IRESS projects will be subject to technical standards, including having a minimum storage duration of 4 hours to ensure sufficient grid support and energy reliability.
Eligible applications for GEA-4 sought are ground-mounted solar, rooftop solar, floating solar, and onshore wind projects. The Terms of Reference (TOR) released lay down the technical, financial and commercial requirements for their selection.
Installation of the desired capacity is spread out between 2026 and 2029 in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao regions, with the winners securing 20-year contracts. Specific targets for each application are mentioned, along with an additional solar and ESS capacity.
Qualified renewable energy suppliers need to register with the DOE to participate in the auction. For IRESS projects, only solar facilities not yet commercially operational with no provisional authority to operate (PAO) or the certificate of compliance (COC) may be registered. Existing solar facilities currently facing curtailed operations under their PAO/COC may also qualify.
Sticking to the timelines will be important for the renewable energy facilities selected in this round as part of revised omnibus guidelines for such auctions. In October 2024, the DOE had revealed plans to terminate contracts for at least 105 renewable energy projects for failing to comply with project timelines, including 53 solar plants. A majority of these were awarded in 2017 and 2019 (see Termination Risk For 105 Renewable Energy Projects In The Philippines).
Nevertheless, the DOE expects GEA-4 to drive substantial investment in renewable energy. “As a flagship government initiative, the Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP) aims to expand the country’s renewable energy capacity and achieve a 35% share in the national energy mix by 2030. By providing energy developers with opportunities to secure long-term contracts, GEAP fosters sustainable energy production while ensuring a more stable, reliable, and greener power supply for the nation,” according to the agency.
It issued the notice of auction (NOA) on March 12, 2025 on its website.
In the previous GEA-2 round, it selected 3.58 GW of new solar and wind energy projects (see Philippines Concludes GEA-2 Auction Round).
The DOE concluded GEA-3 auction in February 2025, securing 14 projects with delivery period from 2025 to 2035. It was for impounding hydropower, pumped-storage hydropower, and geothermal technologies.