Philippine hydropower developers seek fast-track approvals during El Niño
Philippine hydropower developers are asking the Department of Energy to accelerate project construction during the coming El Niño, arguing that low water levels make building easier even as they hurt generation. The PhilHydro Association also backs the seventh round of the Green Energy Auction and u
Hydropower developers in the Philippines are seeking government support to fast-track project construction during the forthcoming El Niño, saying lower water levels present an opportunity to advance works even as the weather phenomenon threatens electricity generation. PhilHydro Association President Francis Joel Arrieta Sayre asked the Department of Energy (DoE) to help developers “maximise the forthcoming El Niño for hydro developers to fast-track development.”
“While the water levels are low which does not bode well for operating hydro plants, it will be easier for hydro construction,” he said in a statement on Sunday. PhilHydro represents developers, owners, operators and technology providers in the Philippines, including Aboitiz Power Corp. and First Gen Corp.
The Philippines is preparing for an El Niño episode projected to persist through the first half of 2027, potentially affecting electricity supply as higher temperatures increase power demand and dry conditions reduce hydropower generation. Hydropower accounted for about 12 per cent of the country’s total installed power generation capacity as of December 2025, according to DoE data. The department has previously said warmer temperatures could reduce hydropower generation by as much as 40 per cent.
“We are at the crossfire of wars, oil crisis, and political conflict affecting almost every industry globally, and hydro being one of the hardest hit with unfinished projects due to highly inflated costs,” Mr. Sayre said.
The association also expressed support for the DoE’s planned seventh round of the Green Energy Auction (GEA) programme, which will include run-of-river hydropower projects. The department has set an installation target of 175 MW for run-of-river hydropower projects in Mindanao, with delivery scheduled between 2028 and 2031. Previous auction rounds covered run-of-river hydropower under GEA-1 and pumped-storage hydropower under GEA-3; projects awarded under those rounds remain under development, with some nearing completion, according to the association.
Mr. Sayre also asked the government to conduct similar auctions in Luzon and the Visayas next year, followed by separate auctions for pumped-storage hydropower and impounding-dam baseload hydropower within the next two years. He called for a medium- to long-term hydropower development roadmap aligned with the Philippine Energy Plan 2023-2050 to help developers plan new projects and expansions based on potential electricity offtake opportunities.
“Hydro can help bring to realisation the government’s target of 35 per cent renewable energy share by 2030 and 50 per cent by 2050, but we need support,” Mr. Sayre said.
