Top 10 Countries by Geothermal Energy Utilization
This ranking is based on data from the International Geothermal Association (IGA), evaluating countries by their combined utilization of geothermal direct heat and electricity generation. It reflects the technological maturity and market scale of each nation in harnessing geothermal and hydrothermal resources for sustainable energy.
Interesting Facts & Summary
As the global leader in geothermal energy, the United States has surpassed an installed capacity of 4,000 MW. This is more than just a statistic; it’s a striking comparison: the geothermal output from California alone is sufficient to power millions of households annually. Unlike many nations that utilize geothermal resources primarily for shallow heating, the U.S. is pushing the frontier with Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), targeting hot dry rock thousands of meters underground. An interesting fact is that the U.S. geothermal grid is powered by over 700 geothermal wells, providing a level of reliability that overcomes the intermittency of solar and wind, securing a true 24/7 'baseload' of clean, green electricity.
| Rank | Country | Installed Capacity (MW) | Primary Utilization Method |
|---|---|---|---|
United States | 4000 | Primarily electricity production | |
Indonesia | 2600 | Electricity and heating | |
Philippines | 1950 | Primarily electricity production | |
| 4 | Turkey | 1700 | Heating and agricultural greenhouses |
| 5 | New Zealand | 1100 | Industrial heat and electricity |
| 6 | Mexico | 980 | Electricity production |
| 7 | Kenya | 950 | Primarily electricity production |
| 8 | Italy | 940 | Electricity and space heating |
| 9 | Iceland | 750 | District heating and tourism |
| 10 | Japan | 600 | Thermal baths and small-scale generation |