Offshore wind auction talks set

The Department of Energy (DOE) will hold a dialogue with key stakeholders on Monday to address regulatory, technical, and infrastructure concerns related to the fifth round of the Green Energy Auction (GEA-5), which focuses solely on fixed-bottom offshore wind projects.

“This dialogue is critical in ensuring that all stakeholders have a collective understanding of the draft Notice of Auction (NOA) and Terms of Reference (TOR) and can contribute to its refinement," Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevara said Wednesday.

"Through this engagement, we hope to address cross-cutting issues early on and set the stage for a smooth and well-coordinated auction process.”

The meeting will include offshore wind developers, industry groups, development partners, and government agencies such as the Energy Regulatory Commission, National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, Philippine Ports Authority, Department of Transportation, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and relevant DOE bureaus.

The DOE wants to clarify the provisions of the GEA-5 documents and encourages feedback on permitting, grid integration, port readiness, and inter-agency coordination.

Based on the draft GEA-5 NOA and TOR released on 11 June, GEA-5 aims to install 3,300 megawatts of fixed-bottom offshore wind capacity, with power delivery expected between 2028 and 2030.

Fixed-bottom offshore wind was chosen for its global success, cost-efficiency, and scalability. Guevara said the DOE is open to including floating wind technology in future rounds once it matures.

GEA-5 is part of the government’s strategy to hit renewable energy targets of 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040 under the Philippine Energy Plan and National Renewable Energy Program.