In the last year, from September 2024 to August 2025, electricity consumption in the Philippines was mainly sourced from fossil fuels, representing more than three-quarters of the total supply. Among fossil fuels, coal was the predominant source, contributing close to 60% of the electricity mix, while gas accounted for about 16%. Meanwhile, low-carbon energy sources made up nearly a quarter of the country's electricity generation. The largest contributors among these were hydropower and geothermal energy, providing approximately 11% and 8% respectively. Solar energy supplied about 3.5%, with biofuels bringing in just above 1%. Nevertheless, the current reliance on environmentally detrimental fossil fuels poses a significant challenge in the fight against climate change and air pollution.
Is Electricity Growing in Philippines?
Examining the trends in electricity consumption in the Philippines, there appears to be a concerning trajectory. The latest measurements indicate a reduction to 1051 kWh per person, down from the previous record of 1085 kWh per person in 2024. This decrease of 35 kWh per person is notable and indicates a slowdown in overall electricity growth, which is worrisome given the future demands anticipated from AI development and increased electrification. On a positive note, low-carbon electricity generation saw a modest rise, reaching 259 kWh per person, surpassing the previous benchmark of 244 kWh per person set in 2000. This growth suggests some movement towards sustainable energy practices but underscores the need for more aggressive expansion strategies to achieve substantial impacts.
Suggestions
To drive an increase in low-carbon electricity generation, the Philippines can leverage successful strategies from other regions that have excelled in different clean energy domains. Countries like France and Slovakia, harnessing nuclear energy for over 60% of their electricity, illustrate the immense potential of nuclear power to provide stable, low-carbon electricity. In parallel, countries such as Lebanon have achieved significant solar generation, with solar accounting for approximately 31% of their electricity mix. The Philippines can learn from these examples by investing more heavily in both nuclear and solar infrastructure. Given the country's tropical climate, emphasizing solar energy makes strategic sense, while nuclear power could provide a consistent and large-scale base load that complements intermittent renewables.
History
Historically, the Philippines has witnessed fluctuations in its low-carbon electricity generation. In the 1980s, the country saw a steady increase in hydropower capacity. Moving into the late 1990s, both geothermal and hydropower experienced periods of growth, although the geothermal output faced a setback in 2001. Hydropower development had its ups and downs during the 2000s and the following decade, with incremental capacity additions often countered by declines. Recent years, however, show a more encouraging trend, highlighted by increased investments in solar and hydropower since 2016. Noteworthy expansions in solar energy in 2024 and hydropower in 2025 have been positive steps forward, but a more ambitious approach could better align the Philippines with global peers in the transition to sustainable energy.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.