Philippines Plans 25 GW Clean Energy Auction by 2035

The Philippines is making a massive bet on clean energy, and the numbers are impressive enough to turn heads across Southeast Asia.

The country's Department of Energy announced plans to auction off 25 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2035 through its Green Energy Auction program. That's enough clean power to energize millions of homes while slashing carbon emissions.

The announcement came during the 2026 Renewable Energy Investment Forum in February, where officials outlined five new auction rounds launching between now and 2027. Each auction targets different technologies, creating opportunities for innovation across the renewable sector.

The most recent auction round approved 10.2 gigawatts of solar, wind and storage projects last November. That included 4.1 gigawatts of traditional solar farms and 2.2 gigawatts of floating solar panels, which sit on water rather than land.

The upcoming auctions get creative with how and where clean energy gets generated. One round focuses specifically on offshore wind turbines. Another targets floating solar and wind projects that didn't get picked up in previous rounds.

Two auctions will bring solar power closer to homes and communities. One focuses on rooftop solar installations across the Visayas islands and Mindanao, aiming for 85 megawatts by 2028. Another adds battery storage systems to capture and save that solar energy for when it's needed most, with a target of 3.2 gigawatts.

Perhaps most innovative is an auction dedicated to specialized solar technologies. These include panels installed over irrigation canals, solar integrated with farming operations, and panels on stilts above fishponds. The government is partnering with agriculture and irrigation agencies to make these hybrid projects work.

The Ripple Effect

This renewable energy push represents more than just environmental progress for the Philippines. The auction program attracts private investment, creating jobs in installation, maintenance and manufacturing while reducing the country's dependence on imported fossil fuels.

The Philippines has committed to generating 35% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. That jumps to 50% by 2040 and over half by 2050. These auction rounds provide the roadmap to hit those targets.

For an island nation vulnerable to climate change impacts like rising seas and stronger typhoons, the shift to clean energy carries extra significance. Every gigawatt of solar and wind power installed is a step toward energy independence and climate resilience.

The country is proving that developing nations can lead on climate action while growing their economies. As these auction rounds unfold over the coming years, the Philippines is positioning itself as a clean energy hub in Southeast Asia.