BUSINESS

DOE speeds offshore wind auction

Maria Bernadette Romero

The Department of Energy has updated timelines and compliance requirements for its fifth Green Energy Auction to help speed up offshore wind projects that could improve power supply for consumers.

Through the Green Energy Auction Committee, the DOE said Thursday it issued the Supplemental Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Fifth Round of the Green Energy Auction (GEA-5) for fixed-bottom offshore wind, following the original Notice of Auction and TOR released on 25 November 2025.

Approved on 22 January after inter-agency and stakeholder consultations, the Supplemental TOR introduces clearer submission requirements and updated timelines for notices, reports, and milestone deliverables. It also streamlines the sequencing of compliance obligations to avoid unnecessary overlaps.

The refinements further align auction processes with the Energy Regulatory Commission, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, and other relevant agencies, while providing additional guidance on performance security, milestone monitoring, and compliance validation. 

Administrative and technical clarifications were also included in the annexes.

“These updates aim to support timely project implementation and reinforce accountability across the development process,” the DOE said.

The department stressed that the refinements do not change the core auction fundamentals, including offered capacity and delivery years, eligible technology, auction mechanics, and tariff framework.

GEA-5 is the country’s first auction dedicated exclusively to offshore wind projects, which targets to install 3,300 megawatts of fixed-bottom offshore wind capacity, with power delivery expected between 2028 and 2030.