DOE clears 11 bidders for waste-to-energy auction

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

The Department of Energy has qualified 11 bidders covering 14 potential waste-to-energy projects for a special Green Energy Auction, drawing participation from companies linked to some of the country’s largest infrastructure groups.

The auction seeks to turn suitable municipal waste into additional electricity while helping address garbage disposal and flooding concerns. Its public benefits will depend on reliable waste collection, competitive power costs and environmental safeguards, with qualification providing no guarantee that projects will receive awards.

Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara announced the qualified participants during an online press briefing Monday.

“We already released the list of qualified GEA-WTE bidders last September 4. We have 14 projects and 11 qualified bidders. The pre-bid conference is on September 15, the auction proper is on October 13, and the issuance of the certificate of award will be from December 16 to 18,” Guevara said.

The list was issued through GEA-WTE Advisory No. 4 on Sept. 4 after the Green Energy Auction–Bids Evaluation and Awards Committee evaluated registration documents and revised work programs, with technical support from the Green Energy Auction Committee–Technical Working Group.

Among the qualified participants is MetPower Venture Partners Holdings Inc. of Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which is pursuing one project.

MetPower is building an integrated solid-waste management facility in Iloilo City and also operates biogas facilities.

Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc., under Razon-led Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc., is seeking one project.

Prime operates two major automated materials recovery facilities in Cebu and Pampanga with a combined capacity to process 6,000 tons of solid waste daily.

Pan Pacific Renewable Power Phils. Corp., an associate of Ramon Ang’s San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp., is pursuing two projects.

San Mateo Sanitary Landfill and Development Corp. and International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist Inc. each submitted two offers.

The other qualified participants are Green Atom Renewable Energy Corp., LECRA Eco Sustain Philippines Inc., Manila Integrated Environment Corp., Forza Development Corp., North Maharlika Energy Corp. and the City Government of Davao.

Waste-to-energy converts nonrecyclable waste into electricity or fuel.

For this auction, qualifying facilities must use municipal solid waste as fuel without mixing it with other fuel sources.

The DOE is targeting 400 megawatts of thermal-combustion waste-to-energy capacity, increased from the original 230 MW under revised auction rules intended to broaden participation and give developers more time to complete projects.

The expanded target does not automatically translate into awards, with projects required to demonstrate “an adequate and sustainable waste supply, technical and financial capability, environmental compliance, competitive costs, and the ability to meet required development timelines.”

In May, the Energy Regulatory Commission approved a Green Energy Auction Reserve price of PHP 9.2959 per kilowatt-hour for pioneer waste-to-energy projects.

The reserve price sets the maximum allowable bid rate in the auction.

The virtual pre-bid conference is scheduled for Sept. 15, ahead of the Oct. 13 auction, with certificates of award set for issuance from Dec. 16 to 18.

Under the revised timetable, winning projects are expected to achieve mechanical completion by the end of 2028 and begin delivering electricity by the end of 2029.

The DOE views the emerging renewable energy technology as part of efforts to improve solid waste management, mitigate flooding and provide additional power.

Metro Manila generates an estimated 9,000 metric tons of municipal solid waste daily, according to the department.

The DOE estimates that this waste stream could support around 200 MW of waste-to-energy capacity, subject to the availability and suitability of feedstock and other technical requirements.

Projects remain subject to strict evaluation for long-term viability and environmental safety.

The department has also emphasized that waste-to-energy should complement waste reduction, segregation, reuse, recycling and materials recovery, with only acceptable residual waste considered for use as fuel.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged local government units to strengthen garbage collection and waste management systems to help sustain facilities such as waste-to-energy plants.

Marcos made the call during an inspection of the Marikina River Linear Park and the city’s Centralized Materials Recovery Facility in Barangay Sto. Niño, where he highlighted Marikina’s integrated approach as a model for other communities.

“But here in Marikina, over the last more or less 10 or 11 years, they were able to establish a system. That is why we are here, because this is one of the best examples of a circular economy,” he said.

Marikina’s system combines waste collection, segregation, recycling, recovery and waterway cleanup.

The city has installed trash catchers to prevent garbage from reaching the river and drainage systems.

The Barangay Sto. Niño facility can process up to 200 tons of dry waste daily and is equipped with sorting bins, composting bioreactors, upcycling facilities and biohazard storage.

Biodegradable waste is processed into compost.

Materials such as Styrofoam, plastic bags and used cooking oil are converted into products including paving blocks, pots, sacks, bags, bricks and components for school desks.

Marcos emphasized that efficient garbage collection is necessary to ensure sufficient waste volumes to sustain facilities such as waste-to-energy plants.

“And this should become the template, and it is now becoming a template for the different cities across the Philippines, especially here in the National Capital Region,” Marcos said.

Marcos also linked proper waste management to flood mitigation and environmental protection, saying that keeping garbage out of waterways and drainage systems supports broader climate and sustainability efforts.

For prospective waste-to-energy facilities, local governments’ ability to collect, segregate and consistently supply suitable municipal waste will be an important consideration as the auction moves forward.