The Geothermal Education Office and a 1980 article entitled “The Philippines geothermal success story” by Rudolph J. Birsic published in the journal Geothermal Energy (vol. 8, Aug.-Sept. 1980, p. 35-44) note the remarkable geothermal resources of the Philippines. During the World Geothermal Congress 2000 held in Beppu, Ōita Prefecture of Japan (May-June 2000), it was reported that the Philippines is the largest consumer of electricity from geothermal sources and highlighted the potential role of geothermal energy in providing energy needs for developing countries.
According to the International Geothermal Association (IGA), worldwide, the Philippines ranks second to the United States in producing geothermal energy. As of the end of 2003, the US had a capacity of 2020 megawatts of geothermal power, while the Philippines generated 1930 megawatts. (Mexico was third with 953 MW according to IGA). Early statistics from the Institute for Green Resources and Environment stated that Philippine geothermal energy provides 16% of the country’s electricity. By 2005, geothermal energy accounted for 17.5% of the country’s electricity production. More recent statistics from the IGA show that combined energy from geothermal power plants in the islands of Luzon, Leyte, Negros and Mindanao account for approximately 27% of the country’s electricity generation. Leyte is one of the islands in the Philippines where the first geothermal power plant started operations in July 1977.
