First offshore wind auction postponed

The Department of Energy (DOE) is delaying the country’s first ever renewable energy auction dedicated to offshore wind to the fourth quarter, as the agency works to address stakeholders’ concerns on a new provision embodied in the proposed terms of reference (TOR).

- By DEXTER BARRO II

From the previously slated third-quarter date, Energy Undersecretary Mylene Capongcol said the DOE has scheduled the fifth green energy auction (GEA-5) round for between October and December.

Capongcol said the agency recently tapped stakeholders for a focus group discussion on the auction’s draft TOR, where she noted that there were “questions raised” on the proposed non-price criteria.

She noted that the non-price criteria were adopted by the agency for GEA-5 since offshore wind projects would also entail availability of ports and transmission lines, among others.

Countries that are ramping up their renewable sources have been leveraging the non-price criteria to keep companies’ environmental compliance in check, as it pertains to their offshore wind projects.