From July 2025 to June 2026, about three-quarters of electricity consumed in the Philippines came from fossil fuels, while only a quarter came from low-carbon sources. Coal dominated at around 57%, followed by gas at 17%. Hydropower supplied roughly 11%, geothermal 8%, solar 4%, and wind 1%. This leaves the electricity supply heavily dependent on fossil fuels, with substantial scope to expand clean generation and reduce the climate impacts and air pollution associated with coal and gas.

Is Electricity Growing in Philippines?

The latest figures do not show growth in electricity consumption per person relative to its historical peak. In 2026, consumption stood at about 1,001 kWh per person, around 43 kWh, or 4%, below the 2024 record of 1,045 kWh. Low-carbon electricity generation also slipped to 251 kWh per person, down 6 kWh from its 2025 record of 257 kWh. These declines are concerning: the Philippines needs expanding clean electricity supplies to support electrification, economic development, and emerging demand from AI. However, per-person figures alone do not establish whether total national electricity consumption increased or decreased.

Suggestions

The Philippines can increase low-carbon electricity generation by accelerating solar deployment, developing suitable wind resources, and building a nuclear electricity programme. Relevant solar examples include the tropical US state of Hawaii, where solar supplies 23% of electricity, and nearby Sri Lanka, where it supplies 15%; Pakistan also demonstrates a substantial solar contribution of 24%. For wind, island regions offer useful examples: Ireland generates 34% of its electricity from wind, and the United Kingdom generates 30%. Nuclear could provide a steady foundation for a larger clean electricity supply, drawing lessons from South Korea, where nuclear supplies 25%, and the United Arab Emirates, where it supplies 20%. Investment in grids, inter-island connections, storage, and technical training would help the Philippines turn these examples into sustained growth.

History

Historically, low-carbon electricity growth in the Philippines has been led by hydropower and geothermal, although progress has been uneven. Hydropower increased by 1.3 TWh in 1984 and 1 TWh in 1988. In the late 1990s, hydro fell by 1 TWh in both 1997 and 1998 before rebounding by 2.8 TWh in 1999; geothermal meanwhile grew by 1.7 TWh in both 1998 and 1999 and another 1 TWh in 2000, before declining by 1.2 TWh in 2001. Hydropower continued to fluctuate through the following decades, with gains in 2006, 2008, 2011, and 2017 interrupted by declines in 2007, 2010, and 2019. More recently, hydro rose by 2 TWh in 2021 and 2.6 TWh in 2025, but fell by 1 TWh in 2026. Solar’s 1.2 TWh increase in 2024 was an encouraging step toward a broader clean electricity mix, which now needs sustained expansion.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Jul 2025 – Jun 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.