Photos

The worlds largest wet steam field is located in Leyte: A total of 700 MW is produced at 5 plants close to Ormoc City. Leyte is close to the Philippine Trench and part of the circumpacific ring of fire, possessing a number of dormant vulcanos. Part of the postvulcanic process are hydrothermal activities, a number of hot springs is known.

The hydrothermal energy is a green energy not only because it does not burn any fossile energy source. For harvesting hydrothermal steam a steady replenishment of the ground water is essential. Thus the PNOC EDC (Philippine National Oil Company Energy Development Corporation) takes care in mainting a healthy rain forest at the watershed, including plantion programmes - so it is really "green". There is no lack of rain in a tropical country - the top of the mountains are already covered by clouds. The rain is captured by the trees reducing the intensity of the precipitation on the surface. Surface discharge is thus reduced and infiltration increased.