The Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy Ali Shareef has said that numerous renewable energy projects are currently under way and that many of these projects are expected to be completed by next year.
The minister made the remarks in a special interview with PSM News about ongoing efforts to develop the Maldives’ energy sector.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced plans to bring transformative changes to the country’s energy policy. Under the plan, the government aims to increase the share of renewable energy in the Maldives’ electricity generation to 33 percent by the end of 2028. Various renewable energy projects are being implemented in Malé City and across the country to achieve this target.
Highlighting these projects, Minister Ali Shareef said 6.5-megawatt solar PV systems had begun operating in Raa Atoll during the past week. He added that work was currently under way to install 11 megawatts of solar PV systems under the AERISE project, with the 1.2-megawatt systems installed in Eydhafushi already in operation.
The minister said work was also under way on a 14.5-megawatt solar project, with the project already awarded to a contractor. He added that a renewable energy project specifically for Addu City was also being planned.
The minister said work on many such projects was being accelerated and that a large number of projects were expected to be completed by the end of next year.
"We are currently discussing an even larger project. God willing, by the end of 2028, a number of projects aimed at generating 33 percent of the electricity used in the Maldives from renewable energy will be implemented this year, and many projects can be inaugurated next year,” Minister Ali Shareef said.
The Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy said that once the ongoing and planned projects are completed, an additional 330 megawatts of renewable energy capacity will be established, bringing the country closer to its national renewable energy target.
The ministry said the target of generating 33 percent of the electricity used in the Maldives from renewable energy would be achieved through these initiatives.
Among the energy projects, work to install 6.5 megawatts of solar PV hybrid systems across 26 islands in Raa and Baa atolls has been completed, and the systems are now in operation. In Kulhudhuffushi, Eydhafushi, Hinnavaru, Thinadhoo, Fuvahmulah and Addu City, 95 percent of the work to install 11 megawatts of solar systems has been completed. Of these, the solar systems installed in Eydhafushi have been fully completed and are now operational.
In addition, work is under way to install 5.88 megawatts of systems across 23 islands in Kaafu, Alif Alif, Alif Dhaalu and Vaavu atolls.
Meanwhile, the design review stage is under way for the installation of around 40 megawatts of battery energy storage systems across 18 islands. Tendering has also been completed to select a contractor to install 14.5 megawatts of hybrid systems across a further 13 islands, and the project has now been awarded to a contractor.
The renewable energy sector has made significant progress over the past two years. During this period, total installed renewable energy capacity increased from 53 megawatts to 116 megawatts.
In addition, 158 megawatts of battery energy storage systems are being established to improve energy security, while work to upgrade electricity distribution networks across the islands is also progressing rapidly.