Power Generation

As of December 2009, the country's installed capacity stood at 15,610 megawatts (MW). Fossil-fuel power plants, mostly located in the Luzon grid, are still the dominant source. The Mindanao grid is heavily dependent on hydroelectric power plants. Coal-fired power plants contributed 27.40 percent, followed by oil-based ones with 20.46 percent and those on natural gas, 18.14 percent. The installed capacity from renewable energy increased slightly with an additional 8 MW expansion of Northwind Power Phase II in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, which became operational in September 2008; the 2.5 MW Sevilla minihydro in Bohol commissioned in November 2008; and the two biomass plants in Negros Occidental with an aggregate capacity of 29.3 MW. Total dependable capacity of the entire grid was at 13,319 MW, or 85.32 percent of the total installed capacity.

Gross power generation in 2009 reached 61,934 gigawatt-hours (GWh), 1.83 percent higher than 2008 level of 60,821GWh17. Natural gas-fired power plants remain the top producer of electricity, accounting for 32.11 percent of the country's total gross generation. Coal-fired plants are second, with 26.60 percent share of the mix. Oil-based generation only accounted for 8.69 percent of the total gross generation in 2009.

In mid-2010, the country was again hit by several hours of rotating brown-outs because of a power supply shortage equivalent to 185 MW. The supply deficit was due to the decrease in dependable capacities of hydro plants caused by El Niño and preventive maintenance schedule of some power plants.

Figure 5.3. 2009 Primary Energy Mix: 2009

Table 5.6. Projected Final Energy Consumption: 2009-2016

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17 GWh converted in MW is multiplied by the following factor: (1000)*(1/24)*(1/365)