ERC to unveil ‘green’ energy auction prices

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is on track to issue the final pricing for the upcoming green energy auction scheduled for next month, its top official said.

“We’re on track. We just have, of course, issues submitted to us—legal issues. But we’re on track,” said ERC chair Agnes Devanadera.

She told reporters the regulatory agency has concluded the public consultations and taken into account all the comments submitted to them on the proposed prices under the green energy auction program or the competitive process of procuring renewable supply.

The government is planning to bid out 2,000 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity as part of efforts to promote the use of nonconventional sources of energy in the country.The Department of Energy (DOE) earlier said it intends to hold the green energy auction electronically on or before June 17.

A prebid conference is slated no later than June 1. Meanwhile, the notice of award is targeted on June 24.

Renewable capacities up for grabs are broken into 1,400 MW for Luzon, 400 MW for the Visayas and 200 MW in Mindanao covering hydro, biomass, solar and wind technologies.

The agency is seeking suppliers for 900 MW of solar, 360 MW of wind, 80 MW of hydro and 60 MW of biomass power in Luzon.

Various types

In the Visayas, the target capacity is 260 MW of solar, 120 MW of biomass and 20 MW of wind power.

Then, in Mindanao, the capacity requirement is 100 MW of solar, and 50 MW each of hydro and biomass power.

Under the rules, the ERC is responsible for determining the green energy auction reserve (GEAR) prices. The initial price for solar energy was set at P3.6248 per kilowatt hour (kWh); wind, P5.2887 per kWh; biomass, P5.5480 per kWh and run-of-river hydro, P5.8705 per kWh.

The DOE defined GEAR price as the maximum price offers in peso per kWh set. It shall operate as the price cap for the auction conducted for the period during which such tariffs are in effect.