Government launches solar hybrid power systems on 25 islands in Raa and Baa Atolls

The Maldivian government has officially inaugurated 6.4 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) hybrid power systems across 25 islands in Raa and Baa Atolls, marking a major milestone in the country's transition to renewable energy.

The inauguration ceremony was held on Monday in R. Kinolhas. The project was implemented in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) under the Preparing Outer Islands for Sustainable Energy Development (POISED) project.

The newly commissioned systems comprise a combined 6.36 MWp of solar PV capacity and 10 MWh of battery energy storage. According to the government, the installations are expected to generate approximately 10.4 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of clean electricity annually, saving more than 3 million litres of diesel each year and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by around 8,400 metric tonnes annually.

The POISED project aims to transform electricity generation across 160 inhabited islands by replacing diesel-powered electricity systems with solar PV hybrid systems. Before the latest rollout, hybrid systems had already been installed and commissioned on 72 islands, incorporating 13.4 MWp of solar PV capacity, 10.6 MWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS), energy management systems (EMS), upgraded grid infrastructure and 27 MW of backup diesel generation.

With the inauguration of the latest 25 islands, the project has now been completed on a total of 97 islands, bringing the cumulative operational capacity to 19.8 MW of solar PV and 20.6 MWh of battery energy storage.

Work is currently underway on an additional 23 islands, with the remaining installations expected to be completed by 2027.

The government said the POISED project is a key component of its efforts to strengthen national energy security, reduce dependence on imported diesel and support the Maldives' climate commitments. The initiative is also expected to contribute significantly towards the country's target of generating 33 per cent of its electricity from renewable energy sources by the end of 2028, in line with the Maldives' Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.