Screening of potential hydro sites in the Philippines using GIS and global data resources

The increasing need for renewable energy and the growing demand for energy is resulting in more focus on hydropower. The Philippines is considered to be one of Asia’s strong economic performers, with sound policies and a favourable global economic environment. The World Bank predicts that economic growth is set to remain strong in the Philippines, despite global uncertainty. The country is rich in hydro resources, and thus provides favourable opportunities for investors. A GIS-based system has been developed to facilitate the identification of suitable sites. This paper describes the input datasets and methodology applied in the Philippines, as well as some of the results obtained.