Developers’ nod affirms GEA-3 push

The country’s shift to a cleaner, more reliable energy mix advances as seven firms accepted 11 renewable energy project awards under the Department of Energy’s (DOE) third Green Energy Auction (GEA-3), with a total capacity of 6,677.218 megawatts (MW) set for delivery from 2025 to 2035.

The awarded hydropower, pumped-storage, and geothermal projects support government efforts to boost renewable energy, ease grid pressure, and cut reliance on fossil fuels.

The DOE said on Wednesday the firms confirmed acceptance following the posting of the Notice of Award on its website on 10 June.

Pan Pacific Renewable Power Phils. Corp., 100-percent owned by FPSP (Holdings Corp.) led by businessman Francis C. Chua, accepted the award for three hydroelectric power projects (HPPs), including the 150 MW Gened 1, 150 MW Gened 2 impounding projects, and the 2,000 MW Maton Pumped-Storage HPP—all located in Apayao.

Coheco Badeo Corp. confirmed acceptance of the 500 MW Kibungan Pumped-Storage HPP in Benguet.

Olympia Violago Water and Power, Inc. and Ahunan Power, Inc., both affiliates of Enrique K. Razon Jr.’s Prime Infra, accepted the award for their pumped-storage projects. Olympia Violago will develop the 600 MW Wawa Pumped-Storage 1 HPP in Rodriguez, Rizal, while Ahunan Power will undertake the 1,400 MW Pakil Pumped-Storage HPP in Pakil, Laguna.

San Roque Hydropower, Inc., an affiliate of the Ramon S. Ang’s San Miguel Group, accepted the award for three pumped-storage projects: the 800 MW San Roque Lower East and 800 MW San Roque West projects in Itogon, Benguet, and the 250 MW Aklan Pumped-Storage HPP in Malay, Aklan.

The Lopez family’s Energy Development Corp. and its affiliate Bac-Man Geothermal Inc. also confirmed acceptance of awards for two geothermal facilities: the 5.645 MW Bago Binary Geothermal Power Plant – Unit 1 in Bago City, Negros Occidental, and the 21.573 MW Tanawon Geothermal Power Plant – Unit 1 in Sorsogon City, Sorsogon.