Geothermal handbook: PlanninG and Financing power Generation t e c h n I c a L r e p o r t 2 / 2

F I g u r E 1 . 7
Global Geothermal Capacity from 1950 (in MW)
Source | Adapted from Bertani 2010.
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
1950 
1960 
1970 
1980 
1990 
2000 
2010
Cumulativ
e C
apacit
y (MW)
Year
generating about 25 percent of their electrical power from geothermal resources. The United States 
and Philippines have the biggest installed capacity of geothermal power plants, 3,000 MW and 1,900 
MW, respectively. The 24 countries using geothermal resources for power generation are shown in 
Figure 1.8. 
F I g u r E 1 . 8
Geothermal Power: Installed Capacity Worldwide
Source | Based on Bertrani 2010.
USA
3098 MW
Portugal
29 MW
Nicaragua
88 MW
Kenya
202 MW
Mexico
958 MW
Guatemala
52 MW
Costa Rica
166 MW
El Salvador
204 MW
France
16 MW
Ethiopia
7 MW
Indonesia
1197 MW
Australia
1 MW
Iceland
575 MW
Germany
7 MW
Austria
1 MW
Turkey
91 MW
Japan
535 MW
Russia
82 MW
Thailand
0,3 MW
Phillippines
1904 MW
Papua
New Guinea
56 MW
New Zealand
762 MW
China
24 MW
Italy
843 MW

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G e o t h e r m a l H a n d b o o k : P l a n n i n g a n d F i n a n c i n g P o w e r G e n e r a t i o n 
Nearly 40 countries worldwide are considered to possess sufficient geothermal potential that could, 
from a technical rather than economic perspective, satisfy their entire electricity demand with 
geothermal power. The largest among these—with a total electricity demand equal to or exceeding 1 
GW that could be met by geothermal power—are Indonesia, the Philippines, Peru, Ecuador, Iceland, 
Mozambique, Costa Rica, and Guatemala (Earth Policy Institute 2011).
T A B L E 1 . 2
Geothermal Power Generation—Leading Countries
INSTALLED IN 
2010 (MWe)
COUNTRy 
TOTAL POWER 
GENERATION
(GWh)
GEOTHERMAL 
GENERATION
(GWh)
SHARE OF 
GEOTHERMAL
(%)
POPULATION 
(2008), IN 
MILLIONS
MWe 
INSTALLED 
PER MILLION 
INHABITANTS
USA
3,093
4,369,099
17,014
0.4
307
10
Philippines
1,904
60,821
10,723
17.6
90.3
21
Indonesia
1,197
149,437
8,297
5.6
227.3
5
Mexico
958
258,913
7,056
2.7
106.4
9
Italy
843
319,130
5,520
1.7
59.8
14
New Zealand 628
43,775
4,200
9.6
4.3
146
Iceland
575
16,468
4,038
24.5
0.3
1,917
Japan
536
1,082,014
2,752
0.3
127.7
4
El Salvador
204
5,960
1,519
25.5
6.1
33
Kenya
167
7,055
1,180
16.7
38.9
4
Costa Rica
166
9,475
1,131
11.9
4.5
37
Sources |
Bertani 2010
IEA 2009b
IEA 2008
Authors’ calculations
World Bank data
Authors’ calculations
Note | MWe stands for megawatts electric, only power generation is considered.
Recent developments in Iceland are noteworthy with large increase in geothermal resource utilization 
taking place in recent years. In 2011, Iceland had an installed geothermal generation capacity of 
575 MW, a reflection of the country’s strong commitment to this form of energy. While 75 percent of 
Iceland’s electricity is still generated from hydropower, around 25 percent comes from geothermal 
resources. Figure 1.9 shows the scale of current utilization. 
A point to note is that, while Iceland built its geothermal industry at least three decades ago, large 
increases in geothermal resource utilization in the country started only in the early 2000s and further 
ramped up in just a few recent years, including the years of the economic crisis of 2008. This 
demonstrates that a country with rich geothermal potential and established industry can scale up its 
geothermal development program relatively rapidly given the political will. The motives for accelerated 
development of geothermal energy in Iceland have included the desire to diversify the energy supply 

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C h a p t e r 1