Geothermal Energy and Its Importance

Renewable Energy Sources

• Renewable energy sources are energy sources capable of replenishment within a human timeframe.

Geothermal Energy

• Geothermal energy is natural heat from the Earth's interior.
• The Philippines ranks third globally in geothermal capacity.
• Arturo Alcaraz is known as the "Father of Philippine Geothermal Development."
• In 2022, 13.4% of the Philippines' electricity came from geothermal energy.
• Makban GP is a 458.53 MW geothermal power plant located in Luzon.
• Unified Leyte is the largest geothermal power plant in the Visayas.
• A 108.48 MW geothermal power plant is located in North Cotabato, Mindanao.
• The total geothermal capacity in the Philippines is 1,951.8 MW.
• Indonesia is the second-largest geothermal energy producer globally.

Geothermal Power Plant Types

• Dry Steam Plants: Use naturally occurring steam.
• Flash Cycle Plants: Operate at higher temperatures than dry steam plants. Use steam from boiling water.
• Binary Cycle Plants: Use a secondary fluid with a low boiling point.

Geothermal Energy Impact

• Geothermal energy is not a high greenhouse gas emitter.
• Geothermal energy development has high initial costs.
• The Philippines' first geothermal power plant operated in 1967.
• Geothermal feasibility requires a heat source, permeability, water supply, but not necessarily shallow depth.

Geothermal Power Plants in the Philippines

• Unified Leyte - 610.18 MW capacity.
• Bacon Manito – Located in Sorsogon/Albay.
• Palinpinon – 192.5 MW.
• Maibarara – Located in Batangas.
• Mindanao North Cotabato– 108.48 MW.

Geothermal and Sustainable Development Goals

• Geothermal energy supports climate action (SDG 13) and affordable and clean energy (SDG 7).

Geothermal Feasibility

• Geothermal feasibility criteria include a heat source, permeability, and water supply.

Additional Information

• Binary cycle plants are not most common for high-temperature geothermal systems.
• Geothermal energy contributes to economic growth.
• All geothermal power plants do not operate at the same efficiency.
• Shallow vs deep geothermal drilling: Not all geothermal projects require shallow drilling.
• The percentage of global geothermal capacity accounted for by the Philippines is 12%.
• The most common type of geothermal plant globally is the flash cycle plant.
• The primary fluid used in flash cycle plants is steam from boiling water, not oil or a secondary fluid.
• Geothermal energy reduces the environment's reliance on greenhouse gases as a source of energy, not the other way around.
• Tiwi geothermal plant is located in Luzon, not in other areas.

Explore the fundamentals of geothermal energy, its benefits, and its role in the Philippines' energy production. Learn about different types of geothermal power plants and discover key figures in geothermal development. This quiz will test your knowledge about one of the most significant renewable energy sources.