The Philippines’ Department of Energy (DOE) has opened a new green energy auction offering 160 MW of biomass-based power generation capacity as the government seeks to expand renewable energy in the country’s electricity mix, Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.
The sixth Green Energy Auction (GEA-6) will allocate 120 MW for stand-alone biomass power projects and another 40 MW for biomass cogeneration facilities.
The capacities are scheduled for delivery between July 2027 and December 2030.
Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara said the Energy Regulatory Commission is expected to issue the green energy auction reserve price by October 1. The reserve price will serve as the maximum bid ceiling that developers can offer per kilowatt-hour.
“The auction proper will be conducted in the fourth quarter of 2026,” Guevara said during a media briefing.
The DOE said biomass projects can participate in the auction provided they qualify under the country’s Renewable Portfolio Standards.
Biomass uses organic material derived from plants and animals as an energy source. It can be used directly to generate heat or converted into liquid and gaseous fuels for applications including electricity generation, heating and transport.
The DOE has previously engaged with biomass industry participants to identify opportunities for expanding biomass-based power generation. The discussions form part of the government’s broader efforts to diversify the country’s energy sources and increase the contribution of renewable energy.
Alongside the biomass auction, the DOE is also advancing plans for a dedicated bidding round for waste-to-energy (WTE) projects.
The department said 11 groups have qualified to participate in the WTE auction.
Waste-to-energy technology involves converting non-recyclable waste into useful energy, including electricity or fuel. The government is promoting the technology as another option for increasing renewable and alternative energy generation while addressing waste management challenges.
The biomass and WTE initiatives are part of the DOE’s wider push to expand non-conventional energy sources and strengthen the country’s energy mix.
