Maldives to Expand Renewable Energy with 19MW Solar PV, Says Minister

Minister of State for Tourism and Environment Mohamed Faiz has announced that the Maldivian government is working to expand the use of renewable energy by adding 19 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity.

He made the statement while inaugurating a meeting titled Conversation on Clean Energy and Climate Change Mitigation, organised by Villa College and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the support of the British High Commission.

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Faiz highlighted that the Maldives is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. He expressed concern over the deterioration of coral reefs due to rising sea temperatures and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. He stated that significant efforts are being made to protect the country from climate change impacts, including the development of an updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) framework to guide climate-related initiatives across various sectors.

He noted that the Maldives spends more than $150 million annually on fossil fuel imports and electricity subsidies. To reduce these costs, he said efforts are underway to increase electricity generation from renewable sources, in line with the President’s directives.

The country’s total installed renewable energy capacity currently stands at 53 MW, with an additional 17 MW recently added. Faiz stated that work is ongoing to expand capacity by a further 19 MW of solar PV, while partnerships with private companies are expected to contribute an additional 115 MW through floating solar installations.

The meeting will also explore trade and investment opportunities in the Maldives, with discussions on the blue economy, renewable energy projects, and legal frameworks for business operations and investment incentives.