DOE launches 1st green power auction with battery system

Solar rooftop – STOCK PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The government is calling for bids for the opportunity to build a total of 9,378 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity in a new round of the Green Energy Auction, which is the first one to integrate solar parks with battery energy storage system (BESS).

In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of Energy (DOE) said it released the terms of reference for the fourth-round auction (GEA-4), a government initiative that aims to scale up renewables’ share in the power generation mix to 35 percent by 2030.

The latest round covers technologies that include ground-mounted solar, roof-mounted solar, floating solar and onshore wind.

On top of these, 1,100 MW of solar power generation capacity complemented with BESS are also up for bidding. The DOE, however, has yet to disclose the capacity for BESS.

BESS is a technology that can store excess power, which could be tapped for later use. Renewable energy developers worldwide have begun investing in BESS, given the intermittent nature of renewables in producing electricity.

For the integration of BESS, the DOE said only solar facilities that are not yet commercially operational and do not have a provisional authority to operate or certificate of compliance may qualify.

However, the agency added that existing solar parks that are experiencing “curtailed operations” may also be considered.

READ: DOE set to release terms of reference for 4th green energy auction

The new facilities covered by the GEA-4 should be deployed from 2026 to 2029, according to the DOE. Winning bidders would secure 20-year supply contracts.