Geothermal, hydro, wind sites on offer in 4th auction round

March 22, 2023

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THE Department of Energy (DoE) said it has selected 19 sites to be offered this year for the fourth round of the open and competitive selection process (OCSP-4).

Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevara said at an energy forum that some of these sites will be suitable for geothermal, hydropower, and wind projects.

“We will host a public consultation on OCSP-4, publish the Department Circular in May, undertake the bidding process from June to August and have the contracts awarded in September,” Ms. Guevara said during the Philippine Electric Power Industry Forum 2023.

For geothermal, the DoE has identified three sites with potential capacity of about 160 megawatts (MW).

The first site, with potential output of 100 MW, straddles the municipalities of Buguias, Benguet and Tinoc, Ifugao. A second site with potential output of 40 MW is in Mabini, Batangas. The third site with potential output of 20 MW straddles Pililla and Jala-Jala, Rizal, and Pangil and Pakil, Laguna.

For hydropower, the DoE has identified 13 predetermined areas at 86.25 MW. It identified three sites for wind but it did not disclose the target potential capacity.

The proposed hydropower sites are in Tinoc, Ifugao (5 MW); Alilem, Ilocos Sur (16.2 MW); San Remigio, Antique (4.2 MW); Libacao, Aklan (15 MW); Badian, Cebu (0.5 MW); two sites in Malaybalay, Bukidnon (4.5 and 5.65 MW); Dingalan, Aurora (1.0 MW); Surigao del Sur (16.3 MW); Digos City, Davao del Sur (4.0 MW); Manabo, Abra (7 MW); Naujan, Oriental, Mindoro (3.3 MW); and Calamba, Misamis Occidental (3.6 MW).

The proposed wind sites are in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija; Pantabangan, Nueva, Ecija; and Bagac, Bataan.

Separately, Ms. Guevara said that to date, the Department of Energy has awarded a total of 57 offshore wind energy service contracts with potential capacity of 42.22 gigawatts.

The DoE is projecting 11,160 MW worth of renewable energy available in the next few years through its green energy auction program. — Ashley Erika O. Jose