GEA-5 Update: Government Prepares For Landmark Offshore Wind Auction Under GEA-5
- March 9, 2026
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GEA-5 Update: The Philippine government is preparing to take a major step toward offshore wind development later this year as the Department of Energy (DOE) moves forward with the country’s first green energy auction dedicated to large-scale offshore wind projects.
The DOE has opened registration for developers interested in participating in the fifth Green Energy Auction (GEA-5), with the application window running until March 16. The auction process formally began in late 2025 following the issuance of the notice of auction and terms of reference.
After the registration period closes, the DOE will evaluate submitted documents, including project infrastructure plans and proposed delivery schedules. The agency is scheduled to release the list of qualified bidders on July 3.
Auction Timeline
A pre-bid conference will follow on July 16, where officials will outline the auction rules as well as the technical and financial requirements for participating developers.
The auction itself is scheduled for Aug. 27. After the bidding process, submitted offers will undergo evaluation by the Bids Evaluation and Awards Committee and validation by a technical working group.
The DOE expects the list of potential winning bidders to be finalized and submitted to Energy Secretary Sharon Garin by mid-September, with public announcements anticipated around Sept. 23. Certificates of award are targeted to be issued to compliant bidders between Feb. 2 and Feb. 22, 2027.
Offshore Wind Capacity Target
GEA-5 will offer 3,300 megawatts (MW) of fixed-bottom offshore wind capacity, with projects expected to begin delivering electricity between 2028 and 2030.
The initiative forms part of the government’s strategy to diversify the country’s power supply while reducing dependence on fossil fuels. The DOE has also expressed its goal of generating the country’s first kilowatt-hours of offshore wind power before the end of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term in 2028.
To guide bidders, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) issued the Green Energy Auction Reserve (GEAR) price, which serves as the maximum allowable bid for the auction. The ceiling price was set at P11 per kilowatt-hour, higher than the regulator’s earlier proposed rate of ₱10.3859 per kWh.
Supporting Renewable Energy Expansion
The DOE said the offshore wind auction is a key component of the government’s broader effort to expand renewable energy capacity.
“The implementation of GEA-5 marks a major stride toward a more sustainable energy future for the Philippines,” the DOE said in a statement, adding that the initiative aims to strengthen grid reliability and enhance long-term energy security through large-scale offshore wind development.
Industry stakeholders have also voiced support for the program. Wind Energy Developers Association of the Philippines (WEDAP) president Poch Ambrosio said offshore wind investments could generate significant economic activity across multiple sectors.
“These projects create direct, indirect and induced jobs, stimulate ports and logistics upgrades, and open opportunities for local manufacturing and enterprise development,” Ambrosio said.
The government’s green energy auction program is a central mechanism for achieving its renewable energy targets, which include raising the share of renewables in the country’s power generation mix to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.
Source:
https://www.bworldonline.com/economy/2026/03/02/733747/first-offshore-wind-auction-set-for-august/
