The Maldives has launched a tender for the development of a 1.5 MW rooftop solar project across 11 islands. This initiative, part of the World Bank-funded Accelerating Renewable Energy Integration and Sustainable Energy (ARISE) program, underscores the nation’s commitment to adopting renewable energy. For more insight into the Maldives’ solar market, see resources like the PVKnowhow Maldives Solar Panel Manufacturing Report (https://www.pvknowhow.com/solar-report/maldives/).
Maldives Solar Tender: Details and Project Structure
Under the tender, selected developers will be awarded 20-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) with the Maldives’ State Electric Company Ltd (STELCO). The projects will be developed using a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model—a common framework for public-private partnerships that facilitates private investment and expertise while ensuring the eventual transfer of ownership to the government.
Targeted Islands for the Maldives Solar Tender
To decentralize energy generation and enhance grid resilience, these rooftop solar installations will be distributed across 11 designated islands: Villingili, Maafushi, Thulusdhoo, Gulhi, Guraidhoo, Dhiffushi, Himmafushi, Kaashidhoo, Hinnavaru, Naifaru, and Madivaru.
Maldives’ Growing Commitment to Solar Energy
The Maldives has been actively pursuing solar energy development to reduce its reliance on expensive diesel generators. While this 1.5 MW tender represents a significant step, the country’s largest solar project to date is a 5 MW installation on the island of Hulhumale.
Further bolstering the nation’s shift from diesel to renewables, the European Investment Bank (EIB) agreed in 2022 to provide $45.8 million in financing to support the Maldives’ energy transition (https://www.eib.org/en/press/all/2022-206-eib-supports-energy-transition-in-the-maldives). This commitment reflects a broader global trend, with other nations like Somalia also launching solar power tenders (https://www.pvknowhow.com/news/somalia-solar-power-tender-launches-12mw-plant/).
