- A 1.2MW solar PV system with 1.5MWh battery storage was inaugurated in Baa Eydhafushi, expected to supply about one-third of the island's electricity.
- The MVR 56 million project, implemented by STELCO under the World Bank-supported ARISE initiative, should cut diesel use by 655,000 litres and save MVR 8 million annually.
- Eydhafushi is part of a wider ARISE plan to install solar systems on 14 islands, reducing the Maldives' reliance on imported fossil fuels.
A 1.2-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system has been inaugurated in Baa Eydhafushi, with the project expected to generate around one-third of the island’s electricity needs from renewable energy.
The system was officially inaugurated today by Minister of Climate Change and Environment Ali Shareef during a ceremony held in Eydhafushi. The project was implemented by State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) under the Accelerating Renewable Energy Integration and Sustainable Energy (ARISE) project, which is being carried out with support from the World Bank.
The MVR 56 million project includes a 1.2MW ground-mounted solar PV system and battery storage capacity of approximately 1.5 megawatt-hours. An energy management system has also been installed to coordinate electricity generated through solar power with the battery and existing diesel generators, helping maintain grid stability.
According to the project details, the solar system will enable Eydhafushi to generate approximately 33 per cent of its total electricity consumption from solar energy. The renewable power generated is expected to meet the equivalent electricity demand of around 441 households on the island.
The project is also expected to significantly reduce the island’s reliance on diesel for electricity generation. Before the solar system was installed, Eydhafushi’s generators consumed around two million litres of diesel annually. With the new system in operation, diesel consumption is expected to fall by approximately 655,000 litres a year.
The reduction in fuel consumption is projected to save around MVR 8 million in annual fuel expenditure, according to the project information. The system is therefore expected to reduce both the environmental impact of diesel-based electricity generation and the cost associated with powering the island.
Speaking at the inauguration, Minister Ali Shareef highlighted the wider economic benefits of increasing renewable energy generation on the islands. He said reducing expenditure on fuel would allow funds to be saved and potentially redirected towards other development projects.
The Eydhafushi installation forms part of a wider government effort to reduce the Maldives’ dependence on diesel-generated electricity and expand renewable energy infrastructure across the country.
Under the ARISE project, solar power systems are planned for a total of 14 islands. The initiative aims to increase the use of renewable energy in the Maldives while reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels for electricity generation.
The Eydhafushi project marks another step towards integrating solar power with existing electricity grids on inhabited islands, using battery storage to support a more stable supply while reducing the amount of diesel required to meet electricity demand.
