Floating solar capacity raised in 4th GEA round

THE Department of Energy (DoE) said it increased the capacity on offer for floating solar in the fourth round of the green energy auction (GEA-4).

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The renewable energy capacities to be offered totaled 10,653 megawatts (MW), higher than the 10,478 MW capacity previously disclosed, according to an advisory.

In a statement on Thursday, the DoE said it has approved an additional 175 MW for floating solar in the Visayas, due to “regional demand and investor interest.”

"This expansion opens new avenues for project development across the archipelago, particularly in areas with limited available land,” the DoE said.

The DoE also reallocated the 1,040 MW installation target capacity for floating solar that was previously scheduled under Luzon for 2026, spreading it across 2027 to 2029.

The DoE said the move is designed to provide developers more preparation time, improve project feasibility, and support grid readiness for this specialized technology.

Floating solar facilities are built on lakes and reservoirs.