Philippines expands fourth auction with storage winning almost 5 GWh

The Philippines Department of Energy (DOE) has finalized results for the fourth Green Energy Auction (GEA-4), allocating 10,195 MW across 123 renewable projects. About 1.2 GW of that total was awarded to hybrid systems combining solar generation with battery storage, under the Integrated Renewable Energy and Energy Storage System (IRESS) category.

The 20 IRESS projects published in the notice of award are spread across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, with Luzon again receiving the largest share. Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation won the most projects with eight of the 20 secured. The largest project is a 190 MW storage project for the Currimao Solar Power Project in Luzon

The list from the GEA-4 Notice for the IRESS projects is as follows:

• Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation, Bolbok 3 Solar Power Project; Phase 1, Luzon, 50.0 MW
• Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation, Bolbok 3 Solar Power Project Phase 2, Luzon, 50.0 MW
• Iligansolar, Inc, Botolan Solar PV Power Plant, Luzon, 40.0 MW
• North Luzon Green Power, Inc., Talingaan-Laoag Solar Power Project, Luzon, 100.0 MW
• Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation, Pagbilao 4 Solar Power Project; Phase 2, Luzon, 25.0 MW
• Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation, Pagbilao 4 Solar Power Project; Phase 1, Luzon, 50.0 MW
• Sapang Balen Solar Sustainable Energy Corp, Sapang Balen Solar 1 – North Power Project, Luzon, 80.0 MW
• Northern Sun Power, Inc., Currimao Solar Power Project, Luzon, 190.0 MW
• Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation, Bolbok 3 Solar Power Project; Phase 3, Luzon, 50.0 MW
• Sapang Balen Solar Sustainable Energy Corp, Sapang Balen Solar 2 – North Power Project, Luzon, 80.0 MW
• Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation, Silay 2D Solar Power Project; Phase 1, Visayas, 35.7 MW
• Magallanes Solar Energy Corp., Barotac Viejo Solar Power Project, Visayas, 67.0 MW
• Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation, Silay 2C Solar Power Project; Phase 1, Visayas, 38.0 MW
• Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation, Silay 2C Solar Power Project; Phase 2, Visayas, 33.4 MW
• Apolaki Eight Inc., Luca Solar Power Project; Phase 2, Visayas, 13.4 MW
• South Cleanergy Inc., Luna Solar Power Project, Visayas, 120.0 MW
• Apolaki Seven Inc., Tantangan Solar Power Project; Phase 2, Mindanao, 13.4 MW
• Apolaki Four Inc., Titan V Solar Power Project; Phase 1, Mindanao, 49.7 MW
• Olympia Solar Power Corporation, Kalandagan Solar Power Project, Mindanao, 54.0 MW
• Apolaki Four Inc., Titan V Solar Power Project; Phase 2, Mindanao, 49.7 MW

Each awarded hybrid must include at least four hours of battery storage and reach a minimum 85 % round-trip efficiency, requirements that make GEA-4 the first Philippine auction to set technical standards for storage. The inclusion of these criteria signals a move toward firm renewable capacity capable of supporting island-grid reliability.

Ground-mounted solar still leads overall allocations at 4.1 GW, followed by 2.2 GW of floating solar and 2.5 GW of onshore wind. Developers must submit compliance documents by December 6, with commercial operation targeted between 2026 and 2029.

If built to four-hour duration, the IRESS projects would represent close to 4.76 GWh of new battery capacity—enough to make storage a visible part of the Philippine energy landscape. The country is targeting renewables for 35 % of its generation mix by 2030 and 50 % by 2040, with battery-integrated solar now part of that path.

The Philippines has committed to achieving a 35% share of renewables in its power generation mix by 2030, increasing to 50% by 2040 and more than half by 2050.