Renewable energy (RE) developers will be able to start applying for permits and conduct feasibility studies before the official 25-year service of contract commences, the Department of Energy announced on Friday.

DOE revised its omnibus guidelines for renewable energy developments to promote ease of doing business in the sector.

DOe Undersecretary Sharon Garin said the RE industry in the country is past its “infancy stage” as investments continue to come in.

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“Philippines is awash of foreign investments in renewable energy whether it’s wind or solar. Hindi na siya infancy in which you have to push investors to come to the Philippines. We don’t need to encourage them to come in nor do we need to market them to come in. We have so many applications and so many contracts already issued,” Garin said.

With 1,300 existing service contracts in the renewable energy sector alone, the DOE is confident the sector can produce up to 62 gigawatts of electricity and hit the government’s renewable energy target of 35% renewable energy share by 2030 and 50% by 2040.

“That’s more than enough to cover our needs in the future,” Garin said.

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Revisions in the omnibus guidelines will also help filter “serious and legitimate” developers who can commit to the set timeline and budget for developments.

Under the revised guidelines, the DOE will issue a Certificate of Authority to developers that will allow them to start procuring licensing from government agencies and conducting feasibility studies even before the start of their contract of service.

Availing of fiscal incentives for duty-free importation has been simplified.

Developers can be given a Certificate of Registration upon contract signing that will grant access to duty-free import benefits.

DOE is also suspending the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS) System to give way for enhancements.

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Will acceptance of new Letters of Intent and RE applications will temporarily be on a halt, applications submitted before the suspension will still be processed.

The revised guidelines will be effective by June 25, 2025.