Philippines Energy Dashboard

Grid Summary

In 2005, electricity generation reached 53.7 billion kilowatt hours. Thermal generation, mostly from natural gas, fuel, oil and coal, accounted for 68 percent of total electricity production, followed by hydropower (15 percent) and other sources (17 percent). According to the EIA, total electricity consumption, 47 billion kilowatt hours, accounted for 12 percent of the Philippines’ final energy consumption in 2005. Currently only 1.4 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity is connected to the grid. This capacity is mostly used to energize rural villages and for “off-grid” electrifications under the Expanded Rural Electrification Program. Renewable energy resources are estimated to have a power generation potential of more than 250,000 MW, with geothermal energy contributing the largest share. A primary goal of the Philippines is to become the world’s largest producer and consumer of geothermal energy for power generation. In February 2007, the Philippine National Oil Company- Energy Development Corporation’s first merchant power plant (49.37 MW) started its commercial operations providing additional power capacity for the Visayas grid. Plans for the Nasulo Geothermal Power Project in Palinpinon and the Mindanao III in Mt. Apo, North Cotabato are already in order, with the plants expected to be online in 2008 and 2011, respectively.As of 2006, the Philippines’ total installed capacity was approximately 2,257 MW. The government has identified 70 hydropower projects with a potential capacity of 2,603.5 MW. Currently there are 14 mini-hydropower projects with completed feasibility studies, expected to provide an additional 237.56 MW to existing capacity…more information.

The current Medium-Term Philippines Development Plan for the period 2004-2010 was unveiled in October 2004 and is designed to address the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It represents the Philippine’s economic development blueprint – economic growth and job creation, energy, social justice and basic needs, education and youth, and anticorruption and good governance. The basic task is to eradicate poverty by building prosperity for the Filipino people. A strong MDG advocacy campaign had been effective in creating awareness among the public and inspiring the government to mainstream the MDGs in the national plan, localize the MDGs and install systems to monitor progress in the achievement of the MDGs. Advocacy efforts are now focused on increasing the gains achieved on the MDGs. According to the Philippines 2007 Midterm Progress on the MDGs, the country will most likely achieve the targets on poverty and dietary energy requirements by 2015…more information.