Maldives Nears 11 MW Solar Commissioning Across Seven Islands

The Maldives is preparing to commission 11 megawatts of solar power systems across seven islands, advancing its national renewable energy targets. The Ministry of Tourism and Environment confirmed the projects are in their final operational stages under a power purchase agreement. The initiative, covering Kulhudhuffushi City, Eydhafushi, Hinnavaru, Thinadhoo City, Fuvahmulah City, Hulhudhoo, and Meedhoo, aims to drastically reduce dependence on imported diesel for electricity. This shift is expected to cut environmental impact, support sustainable development, and deliver economic savings by lowering fuel import costs. Parallel infrastructure work is enhancing electricity networks and installing battery energy storage systems (BESS) on the islands through separate Engineering, Procurement, and Construction contracts. These projects are key components of the Ministry's broader Aspire and Arise programs, which combine public and private investment. The broader plan targets deploying 43 MW of solar capacity alongside 40 MWh of battery storage across 21 islands. This builds on the success of the earlier 'Preparing Outer Islands for Sustainable Energy Development' (POISED) program, which has installed hybrid solar-diesel-battery systems in more than 100 islands. Cumulatively, these investments are designed to help meet President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's pledge to generate 33 percent of the nation's electricity from renewable sources by 2028.