The Department of Energy (DOE) reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to innovation and renewable energy advancement by unveiling significant enhancements to the Fourth Round of the Green Energy Auction (GEA-4), with a particular focus on accelerating the adoption of Floating Solar technology.
These strategic adjustments, outlined in the newly issued Advisory No. 2, alongside earlier procedural and technical updates in Advisory No. 1, underscore the DOE’s proactive approach to achieving the Philippines’ ambitious goal of a 35% renewable energy share by 2030.
Floating Solar, an innovative clean energy solution that strategically utilizes bodies of water like lakes, reservoirs, and dams for solar panel installations, presents a unique opportunity to optimize land use, minimize water evaporation, and enhance panel performance through natural cooling. The DOE’s latest initiatives are set to integrate this promising technology into the nation’s mainstream renewable energy mix.
The DOE has strategically reallocated the 1,040MW installation target capacity originally slated for Luzon in 2026. This capacity will now be distributed across 2027, 2028, and 2029, providing developers with extended preparation time, improving project feasibility, and ensuring grid readiness for this specialized technology.
Recognizing growing regional demand and investor interest, the DOE has approved an additional 175MW capacity for Floating Solar in the Visayas, scheduled for auction in 2027 and 2028. This expansion opens new avenues for project development across the archipelago, particularly in areas with limited land availability.
These measures signify a historic push towards integrating Floating Solar into the country’s mainstream renewable energy mix. By proactively adjusting timelines and capacity allocations, the DOE is signaling strong institutional support for innovative renewable energy solutions, while fostering broader participation among developers and investors.
Advisory No. 1: Enhancing the Broader GEA-4 Framework
Before Advisory No. 2, the DOE released Advisory No. 1 on May 28, 2025, introducing key procedural and technical enhancements across the broader GEA-4 framework. These include:
Solar capacities must now be expressed in MWAC (Pmax) to represent the maximum stable load output, replacing the previous MWp unit, ensuring greater clarity and consistency.
Solar developers will now have the flexibility to bid either stand-alone solar or integrated solar + Energy Storage Systems (ESS), regardless of their initial development scheme. This is contingent on timely notice, submission of separate bid bonds, and possession of a valid RE Contract or Certificate of Authority.
The DOE clarified that ESS capacity is not required at the time of registration and that user-specific bidder IDs will be issued upon confirmation of project lot preferences, streamlining the registration process.
Winning bidders are now required to submit detailed project designs that accurately reflect the awarded scheme. For Solar + ESS projects, a new System Impact Study or Distribution Impact Study is required.
Bid bonds will be computed solely based on the MWAC of the solar component, ensuring financial clarity for all participants.
Additionally, updated Instructions to Bidders and a revised GEA-4 Registration Form were issued as Annexes C and D.1, respectively, further streamlining the registration process.
These comprehensive updates underscore the DOE’s mission to deliver a transparent, competitive, and future-forward renewable energy auction system. As the Philippines targets a 35% renewable energy share by 2030, the strategic rollout of transformative technologies like Floating Solar will play a pivotal role in achieving a cleaner, more resilient energy future for all Filipinos.
