The Department of Energy (DOE) is confident the entire 400 megawatts (MW) of capacity on offer in the special waste-to-energy (WTE) round of the Green Energy Auction (GEA) will attract full investor interest, signaling strong market confidence in the country’s clean energy expansion.
Through the GEA, renewable energy developers compete for guaranteed fixed power rates by submitting bids at or below the Green Energy Auction Reserve prices set by the Energy Regulatory Commission, with incentives funded by a small share of monthly electricity bills across all grid-connected consumers, and projects required to meet set completion timelines to retain those benefits.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin gave the assurance during the Bagong Pilipinas public briefing on Tuesday, emphasizing that all technologies deployed will meet rigorous environmental standards. “Our emissions rules are as strict as Switzerland’s. Previously, few technologies qualified, but now proven solutions are readily available,” Garin said, noting that modern, compliant systems are already widely used in Japan, China, Taiwan and Singapore. She underscored multi-agency oversight: the Department of Science and Technology must certify technology as sound, followed by reviews by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Climate Change Commission, with thorough testing and screening required before any facility is built. “These safeguards ensure only the best available technology goes into our WTE plants,” Garin added.
The auction is scheduled for October 13, with successful bidders expected to reach mechanical completion by late 2028 and start commercial operations by the end of 2029. The initiative comes as Metro Manila alone produces roughly 9,000 metric tons of municipal solid waste each day—a stream that could support around 200 MW of WTE capacity, subject to feedstock quality and technical checks. Officials clarified that WTE is designed to complement, not replace, the country’s solid waste management hierarchy, prioritizing waste reduction, segregation, reuse and recycling. Only non-recyclable residual waste will be accepted as feedstock, and all facilities must maintain full compliance with environmental laws, permitting rules and emissions limits throughout their lifespan. As of end-June 2026, the Philippines’ total installed on-grid WTE capacity stands at just 7 MW, highlighting the significant growth potential of this sector to diversify energy sources and address waste management challenges.
