Geothermal Energy: The Forgotten Renewable Power of the Philippines

 

Geothermal Energy: The Forgotten Renewable Power of the Philippines

Geothermal energy may be one of the forgotten renewable energy sources in the Philippines.

Back in the 1980s and 1990s, geothermal power was seen as the answer to the country’s growing energy demands—using the natural heat from the earth to meet the needs of a growing economy.

One of the largest geothermal facilities in the world is found in Kananga, Leyte—the Malitbog Geothermal Power Plant. Since its commissioning, this plant has been supplying clean and reliable energy to the grid.

How is geothermal energy harnessed?

Geothermal wells are drilled several kilometers into the ground. These wells bring up geothermal fluid, which is then processed to separate the steam. The steam is used to run a turbine and generator, generating electricity.

Geothermal is considered a closed-loop system because the condensed steam is reinjected back into the ground—making it sustainable and environmentally friendly.

The current status of geothermal in the Philippines

Today, geothermal still has the largest contribution among all renewable energy sources in the Philippine energy mix. As of June 2025, geothermal accounts for around 8.70% of the country’s total energy supply.

However, over the years, geothermal energy has lost the public’s attention. Most conversations now focus on solar and wind energy.

That’s why I’m sharing with you the big advantages of geothermal energy over solar and wind.

Just to be clear—I’m not saying solar and wind are bad. They are important in building a cleaner energy future. But I believe both the government and the public should also show stronger support for geothermal energy.

Advantages of Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy has one big advantage over solar and wind: It can supply constant “baseload” power 24 hours a day.

This means a geothermal power plant can run at its full declared capacity all day and all night—something solar and wind cannot do.

For Solar: It’s obvious—solar power plants don’t produce electricity at night. Some people think solar plants can just store excess energy in batteries during the day, then run at full capacity at night.

While it’s true batteries can store energy, they can only do so for a short period. For example, a 10 MWh battery energy storage system can only supply 10 megawatts for about 1 hour. That’s why battery systems are mainly used for peaking support—like helping meet demand spikes around 6:00 PM—not for long-term supply.

Solar Flood Light 600W Outdoor Waterproof IP68

Also, from June to December (typhoon season), solar output drops due to cloudy and rainy weather. In fact, some reports say output can fall by up to 30% during these months, no matter how efficient the plant is.

For Wind: Wind power faces a similar problem—it depends on the wind. There are “low wind” seasons when wind speeds are too weak to turn the turbines. When this happens, total output drops far below the plant’s declared capacity.

Why the Philippines should focus more on geothermal

The Philippines aims to reach 50% renewable energy by 2040. Investing in solar and wind is a good step toward sustainability.

However, the government should also boost geothermal capacity. If we rely too heavily on solar and wind, we could face shortages when weather conditions aren’t favorable.

We can’t control the sun, clouds, typhoons, or wind speed. But geothermal energy is stable, weather-proof, and always available.

If solar and wind output drops, we need geothermal to fill the gap—otherwise, we might be forced to turn back to fossil fuels.

The future of renewable energy in the Philippines

For a clean energy future, we must reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. The best way to do this is to maximize the country’s geothermal potential while still supporting solar and wind. Geothermal is the only renewable source that can match fossil fuels in providing constant, reliable baseload power.

If you believe geothermal energy deserves more attention, please share this article so it can reach the people who can make it happen.

Related Articles:

1. Can the Philippines Rely on Solar and Wind Energy Alone?
2. The Solar Giant of 2025: Discover the Philippines' Largest Power Plant!