The Philippines’ Department of Energy (DOE) is preparing to auction 160 megawatts (MW) of biomass power capacity under the sixth round of its Green Energy Auction, with projects scheduled for delivery between July 2027 and December 2030.
The GEA-6 biomass auction will divide the capacity between standalone generation and cogeneration facilities. Of the total, 120 MW will be available for standalone biomass projects, while a further 40 MW will be allocated to cogeneration.
The auction is expected to take place in the fourth quarter of 2026, according to Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is expected to publish the Green Energy Auction reserve price by October 1, setting the maximum allowable bid price for participating projects.
Philippines sets 160 MW biomass auction capacity
The DOE’s GEA-6 notice makes biomass projects eligible to participate provided they meet the requirements under the country’s Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS).
The RPS requires electricity providers to source a specified share of their supply from eligible renewable energy sources. By making RPS-eligible biomass projects part of the auction, the government is seeking to add new renewable generation capacity while providing a competitive procurement mechanism for developers.
Guevara said the auction proper would be conducted during the fourth quarter of 2026.
The capacity on offer will be delivered over a multi-year period, with projects expected to provide the contracted capacity from July 2027 through December 2030.
The structure gives both standalone biomass generators and cogeneration facilities a route into the government’s latest renewable-power procurement programme.
Biomass remains part of Philippines’ renewable energy strategy
The DOE has previously engaged with biomass providers to discuss opportunities to expand biomass generation, as part of wider efforts to strengthen the country’s energy mix.
Biomass can generate electricity through the combustion or other conversion of organic material derived from plants and animals. Depending on the technology and feedstock, biomass can also be converted into liquid or gaseous fuels.
For the power sector, the GEA-6 allocation provides a dedicated procurement opportunity for biomass projects alongside other renewable technologies being developed in the Philippines.
The availability of separate capacity for cogeneration is particularly relevant to facilities capable of producing both useful heat and electricity. However, the DOE’s announcement does not specify which industries or feedstocks are expected to account for the 40 MW cogeneration allocation.
ERC reserve price to set auction ceiling
A key next step will be the release of the Green Energy Auction reserve price by the ERC.
The reserve price establishes the maximum bid ceiling, expressed in Philippine pesos per kilowatt-hour, against which participating developers will compete. The source material states that the ERC is expected to release the figure by October 1.
The final auction outcome will therefore depend on the reserve price and the bids submitted by eligible biomass developers. The DOE has not provided project-level details, including the number of facilities expected to participate, individual project capacities, investment values or specific biomass feedstocks.
Philippines also advances waste-to-energy auction
The biomass auction is being pursued alongside a separate government initiative covering waste-to-energy (WTE) technology.
According to the DOE, 11 groups have qualified to participate in the special WTE auction. Waste-to-energy projects convert non-recyclable waste into electricity or fuel, providing an alternative route for managing waste while producing energy.
The parallel initiatives indicate that the government is seeking to expand the role of different forms of renewable and waste-derived generation within the national energy system.
Biomass and WTE also differ in their feedstock bases and project configurations, meaning their development will depend on the availability and characteristics of locally sourced organic material and waste.
Renewable power target drives new auctions
The latest biomass and WTE initiatives form part of the Philippines’ broader push to attract investment into renewable energy.
The government aims to increase renewable energy’s share of the country’s electricity generation mix from 25% currently to 35% by 2030, according to the source material.
Against that target, the 160 MW biomass allocation under GEA-6 represents a specific procurement opportunity for biomass generation, with the first project deliveries scheduled from July 2027.
The immediate milestones are the expected release of the ERC’s biomass auction reserve price by October 1 and the DOE’s planned conduct of the GEA-6 auction in the fourth quarter of 2026.
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