State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) has pledged its full support towards achieving the government's ambitious target of increasing renewable energy usage to 33 percent by 2028, according to the company’s Managing Director Dr Ali Azwar.
As the primary electricity provider serving the capital city as well as several islands across the atolls, STELCO recognises its critical role in helping the government realise this landmark goal. Azwar described the President's decision to raise the renewable energy proportion to 33 percent as a far-sighted and crucial step for the nation's future.
"We are currently in discussions with relevant government agencies to implement a major project under the Special Economic Zone, targeting the Male' area, which consumes the most electricity in the Maldives," Azwar said, adding that this project will provide a tremendous boost to the government's renewable energy objectives.
Beyond the Male' project, STELCO is actively working to integrate solar energy into power plants across the islands it serves. The company has identified Rakeedhoo in Vaavu Atoll as a particularly noteworthy pilot project, with the goal of generating most of the island's electricity needs through solar power. Similar initiatives are planned for other islands.
Additionally, renewable energy works are underway in several STELCO-served islands under the 'Poise' programme, which is expected to catalyse a major transformation in the Maldives' energy system.
The Maldives has made significant progress in promoting renewable energy, particularly in solar power initiatives. The government's Energy Act and Energy Sector Roadmap aim to ensure that energy supply is adequately reliable, sustainable, safe, and affordable. Private sector investments in renewable energy are playing an increasingly important role, contributing not only to internationally set climate goals but also strengthening the nation's energy security and economic resilience.