Government hints at more offshore wind auctions

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January 29, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The government may launch more offshore wind auctions to capitalize on surging investor interest and guarantee a market for upcoming projects, a senior energy official said.

In a recent interview, Energy Undersecretary Giovanni Carlo Bacordo signaled that another green energy auction (GEA) for offshore wind technology may be held to cater to more awarded service contracts.

“Definitely, there will be a next GEA round specific to offshore wind,” Bacordo said, pointing out the relatively small installation target for GEA-5.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has granted 92 offshore wind contracts totaling more than 65 gigawatts, yet only 3.3 GW will be available in GEA-5 this year.

This limited installation target has raised concerns among developers, who worry that their projects may not secure the long-term revenue certainty needed to recover their investments.

“That’s why we need to have succeeding green energy auctions for offshore wind,” Bacordo said.

Under GEA, winning bidders will deliver power supply for 20 years, with green energy tariff payments beginning upon project commissioning and registration with the electricity spot market.

The DOE undersecretary noted that the small installation target for GEA-5 was due to port constraints and the grid’s limited capacity to handle a large influx of offshore wind power.

“We have to limit it to only 3.3 GW. That’s why we have to catch up with the grid and with the ports,” he said.

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has identified the Pambujan port in Camarines Norte and the Santa Clara port in Batangas as priority infrastructure to drive the country’s offshore wind development.

Bacordo said the PPA is committed to completing the Camarines Norte port by the first quarter of 2027, ensuring developers have a ready base to stay on track for power delivery between 2028 and 2030.

The Batangas port, meanwhile, will move forward under a public-private partnership (PPP), with its completion hinging on the physical study, the PPP structure and private sector participation.

“As for the port of Currimao (in Ilocos Norte), it definitely will not be (ready) in 2028. It will not be (completed) within this administration,” Bacordo said, noting that the port is designed for floating offshore wind technology.

Ports are vital for offshore wind development, as they serve as logistical and operational hubs for construction, assembly and maintenance.