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Asian Development Bank

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The Maldives have begun gearing up for large-scale renewable energy production, with a project named Preparing Outer Islands for Sustainable Energy Development (POISED).

The POISED project began in 2015 and so far the project has helped installation of more than 10.5 megawatt (MW) of solar photovoltaic and 5.6MWh of battery storage in outer islands. After 25 years the project is aiming to be saving around 40,000 tons of CO2 equivalent per year.

On the island of Addu, the second-largest inhabited island, a 0.5MWh lithium-ion battery energy storage system was installed with high-speed charge/discharge features and an advanced energy management system. The project is expected to contribute to increasing solar photovoltaic penetration capacity of the system from 33% to 54% and increase grid stability.

40K

TONS OF ANNUAL CO₂ EQUIVALENT SAVINGS BY 2045

The POISED project already has installed Solar PV-Battery-Diesel hybrid systems in over 70 outer islands including grid upgrades, energy management systems, and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems to monitor the outer islands power system from Male.

The project is funded from a range of sources and is receiving $55 million in grants — $38 million from the Asian Development Fund, $12 million from the Strategic Climate Fund, and $5 million from the Japan Fund for the Joint Crediting Mechanism. The project also has $50 million co-financing from the European Investment Bank.

The POISED project aims to reach all 160 islands of the Maldives by the end of the project (photo by ADB).

The Challenge

The widely scattered nature of the islands together with their small size and demand makes generation costs higher and creates a challenge for bringing renewable installations to scale and to attract the private sector.

Co-Benefits

Social Improved access to energy is expected to improve levels of education, reduce poverty, and strengthen the sense of community. There will also be job opportunities for members of the island inhabitants.

Economic Improved access to energy and lower cost of electricity are expected to improve overall economic output and productivity of the country.