The Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy has announced that preparations are underway to launch renewable energy projects that will generate more than 50 megawatts of electricity across 24 islands in the Maldives.
The projects, to be implemented under the Ministry's ASPIRE and ARISE programmes, are expected to make a significant contribution towards the government's target of generating 33 per cent of the country's electricity from renewable energy sources by the end of 2028.
The Ministry said the projects form part of the energy policy of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's administration, with the primary objective of reducing expenditure on imported fuel used for electricity generation while strengthening the Maldives' energy security.
According to the Ministry, the projects will prioritise environmentally sustainable electricity generation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reinforcing the Maldives' contribution to international efforts to address climate change.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has pledged to ensure that 33 per cent of the electricity generated in the Maldives comes from renewable energy sources by the end of 2028. The Ministry said the installation of more than 50 megawatts of renewable energy generation capacity across 24 islands will also strengthen electricity services in those islands and improve long-term access to sustainable energy.
The Ministry noted that substantial investments have been made over the past two years to ensure uninterrupted 24-hour electricity services for residents of all inhabited islands.
Director General at the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, Ahmed Ali, said efforts are progressing at various stages to establish a total of 164 megawatts of solar photovoltaic (PV) hybrid systems across 101 islands in the outer atolls.
He added that projects are also underway to establish 158 megawatts of battery energy storage systems across various islands to support renewable energy generation and improve the reliability of electricity services.
The Ministry said the ASPIRE and ARISE projects will establish solar power generation systems on islands across both the northern and southern regions of the Maldives. It said the projects will significantly reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuels while accelerating progress towards achieving the President's renewable energy target.