The Department of Energy (DOE) on Wednesday released the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the fourth round of the Green Energy Auction (GEA-4), bidding 10,478 megawatts (MW) of capacity from solar, onshore wind, and integrated energy storage technologies.
In a statement, the agency said 9,378 MW of the new capacity for auction are from ground-mounted solar, roof-mounted solar, floating solar, and onshore wind projects and 1,100 MW from integrated renewable energy and energy storage system (IRESS), or solar power plus ESS.
The agency holds the GEA Program as part of the government’s goal to accelerate renewable energy (RE) transition.
“The release of the TOR for GEA-4 underscores the Philippines’ commitment to transitioning to clean energy while ensuring energy security. By ensuring a transparent and competitive selection process for renewable energy projects, we are accelerating the shift toward a more sustainable, secure, and resilient energy system,” DOE Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara said.
Under the GEA-4, delivery of these RE projects will be between 2026 and 2029, with a supply contract of 20 years starting from the commercial operation date of the power plant.
DOE noted that for IRESS projects, those that do not have a Provisional Authority to Operate (PAO) or Certificate of Compliance (COC) may register, while existing solar facilities currently facing curtailed operations under their PAO/COC may also qualify.
The GEA-4 also lists specific technical standards for the IRESS.
“These include an energy storage system inverter ratio of at least 0.2 relative to the registered solar capacity and a minimum round-trip efficiency of 85 percent, as specified by the manufacturer. Round-trip efficiency measures the ratio of energy output during discharge to energy input during charging. Additionally, each project must have a minimum storage duration of four hours to ensure sufficient grid support and energy reliability,” the DOE said.
Additional information about GEA-4’s TOR may be accessed through doe.gov.ph/geap/gea-4-notice-auction.
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