Following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s commitment to strengthening the government’s waste-to-energy program, the Department of Energy (DOE) on Thursday underscored the importance of the ongoing process towards the special auction round for this technology.

The DOE, in a news release, said about 400 megawatts (WM) of waste-to-energy capacity have been included in the Green Energy Auction (GEA) program, with the auction set for Oct. 13.

Proponents of the winning projects are expected to achieve mechanical completion by the end of 2028 and the power plants are expected to start delivering power by the end of 2029.

“The President has underscored the need for a more integrated approach to addressing our waste challenges. Waste that can no longer be reused or recycled should not simply end up in landfills or waterways. Subject to strict environmental safeguards, appropriate residual waste can be converted into useful energy and contribute to our power supply,” Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said.

The DOE said about 9,000 metric tons of municipal solid waste are generated in Metro Manila daily, and this volume is estimated to produce 200 megawatts of power.

However, it noted that the waste-to-energy (WTE) program is “intended to complement, not replace waste reduction, segregation, reuse, recycling, and material recovery under the country’s solid waste management framework.”

“Only acceptable residual wastes should be considered as feedstock for WTE facilities,” it said.

“We are moving WTE from policy into implementation. The President’s renewed push gives further momentum to that work. Our task now is to identify viable projects, uphold the necessary environmental and technical standards, and move qualified facilities toward construction and eventual delivery of electricity to the grid,” Garin added. (PNA)