Renewable Energy Projects Planned Across 24 Islands, Says Environment Ministry

The Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy has announced that preparations are underway to launch renewable energy projects capable of generating more than 50 megawatts of electricity across 24 islands.

The projects will be implemented under the Ministry’s ASPIRE and ARISE programmes and are expected to contribute significantly towards the government’s target of generating 33 per cent of the country’s electricity from renewable energy sources by the end of 2028.

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According to the Ministry, the projects are part of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s energy policy, which aims to reduce the country’s reliance on imported fuel for electricity generation while strengthening national energy security.

The Ministry said the projects will prioritise environmentally sustainable electricity generation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the Maldives’ contribution to global efforts to address climate change.

The installation of more than 50 megawatts of renewable energy capacity across 24 islands is also expected to strengthen electricity services and improve long-term access to sustainable energy for island communities.

The Ministry noted that significant 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 work is 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 also said projects are underway to install 158 megawatts of battery energy storage systems across multiple islands to support renewable energy generation and improve the reliability of electricity services.

According to the Ministry, the ASPIRE and ARISE programmes will establish solar power generation systems on islands across both the northern and southern regions of the Maldives. The Ministry said the projects are expected to significantly reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels while accelerating progress towards achieving the government’s target of generating 33 per cent of electricity from renewable energy sources by the end of 2028.