Green bid scales up floating solar demand
‘Floating Solar, an emerging clean energy solution that utilizes bodies of water such as lakes, reservoirs, and dams for solar panel installations, offers a unique opportunity to maximize land use efficiency.’
The Department of Energy (DoE) has increased the total capacity for the fourth Green Energy Auction (GEA4) to 10,653 megawatts (MW), up from 10,478 MW to strengthen developer participation and integrate advanced technologies like floating solar.
An advisory released Thursday said the updated target includes 9,553 MW from ground-mounted, roof-mounted, floating solar, and onshore wind projects for delivery between 2026 and 2029, plus 1,100 MW of solar capacity with battery energy storage.
The previous plan had allocated 9,378 MW for solar and wind, and 1,100 MW for solar with storage.
The DoE reallocated 1,040 MW of floating solar capacity in Luzon — initially scheduled for 2026 — across 2027, 2028 and 2029 to allow developers more preparation time, enhance feasibility, and support grid readiness.
175MW up for bid
It also added 175 MW of floating solar in the Visayas for auction in 2027 and 2028 in response to investor interest and regional demand.
“Floating Solar, an emerging clean energy solution that utilizes bodies of water such as lakes, reservoirs, and dams for solar panel installations, offers a unique opportunity to maximize land use efficiency, reduce water evaporation, and improve panel performance through natural cooling,” the DoE said.
As part of the updated auction rules, solar capacity must now be expressed in megawatt alternating current (MWAC), representing the maximum stable load output, instead of megawatt peak.
Developers may bid for either stand-alone solar or solar with battery storage, regardless of their initial scheme, provided they submit a notice, separate bid bonds, and hold a valid Renewable Energy (RE) contract or certificate of authority.
Battery storage is not required at the time of registration. Bidders will receive user-specific IDs after confirming project lot preferences.
Winning bidders must submit updated project designs, with new system or distribution impact studies required for solar-plus-storage projects. Bid bonds will now be based only on the MWAC of the solar component.