Maldives Solar Photovoltaic Glass

The Maldives solar project is a 36 MW solar power project and 50 MWh of battery energy storage solutions development across various islands in the Maldives. It also includes grid modernization for the integration of variable renewable energy with the grid, which will be financed under the proposed AIIB loan.

Solar PV with storage has proven suitable and competitive for Maldives' high penetration of renewable energy (POISED type B projects), with an average fuel savings of 25%. The concept design of hybrid systems (efficient diesel generators + solar PV plants + energy storage) has resulted in success for Maldives.

Maldives aims to transform the energy systems of at least 160 islands from diesel-based to hybrid solar PV-diesel systems through the Preparing Outer Islands for Sustainable Energy Development (POISED) project, which was established in 2014 with the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The project focuses on the implementation of hybrid solar PV-diesel systems.

In tropical islands like the Maldives, for example, photovoltaic panels are installed on the roofs of most resorts, delivering electricity during the presence of sunlight. However, diesel generators are still the main source of backup power.

In 2014, the first 1.5 MW solar project under ASPIRE only had four investors bids, and resulted in a high power purchase price (PPA) of 21 US cents per unit of electricity, indicating a lack of interest from investors in investing in sustainable projects in the Maldives.

Now, one of the first sights for any of the 1.7 million tourists visiting the Maldives will be that of the 5 MW solar installation on the highway linking the airport island to Male and its satellite town of Hulhumale.