Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Geothermal Country Notes

Philippines
The Philippines archipelago is exceptionally well-endowed with geothermal resources. Today the country is the world's second largest user of geothermal energy for power generation. With only some 46% of the stated geothermal potential of 4 340 MW harnessed, there is much room for growth. The Government plans to double the current installed capacity from renewable energy in the next decade (the so-called '100 in 10' target) and the geothermal sector will undoubtedly benefit.

As recently as 2000, geothermal energy was contributing about 25% of national electricity generation. However, the supply of indigenous gas has become significant, so that by 2005 the share of geothermal stood at approximately 18%.  At end-2005 eleven power plants in six fields were operating with a total installed capacity of 1 978 MWe. The fields, spread throughout the islands, are at Mak-Ban (Luzon), Tiwi (Luzon), Tongonan (Leyte), Palinpinon (Negros), Bac-Man (Luzon) and Mindanao (Mindanao). Four of the steam-fields are operated by PNOC-Energy Development Corporation, whilst the remaining two are operated by Chevron Geothermal Philippines Holding Inc. (CGPHI). PNOC-EDC's first vertically-integrated operation (49 MWe) was commissioned at the beginning of February 2007. For the period 2006-2014, the Department of Energy lists two 'committed' projects and 20 'indicative' projects, with a total capacity of 824 MW.

Direct use of geothermal heat is currently at the very low level of 3.3 MWt of which 1.6 MWt is used for agricultural drying and 1.7 MWt for bathing and swimming. The Government plans to further develop  direct utilisation.