How much solar power does the Maldives have?

The Maldives had 15 MW of installed solar power at the end of 2020. The Maldives ‘ Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology has launched the pre-qualification phase of a tender for the deployment of two large-scale storage systems with a combined capacity of 40 MW/40 MWh across 22 islands.

How will aspire and rise help the Maldives' energy transition?

World Bank-financed projects ASPIRE and ARISE support the Maldives' energy transition by installing more than 53.5 megawatts of solar capacity and 50-megawatt hours of battery storage. This will reduce Maldives' annual import bill by about $30 million, with a project lifetime saving of $756 million over 25 years.

How will aspire solar projects benefit Maldives?

In general, the projects will benefit the people of Maldives and the government by lowering electricity prices and providing quasi-budgetary support. 2014 –The first 1.5 megawatt (MW) solar project under ASPIRE had four investors' bids, resulting in a high PPA of 21 US cents per unit of electricity.

What are the challenges facing solar projects in Maldives?

Challenges facing such projects include integrating solar with existing power sources on the grid, off-taker risk, weak procurement, and planning capacity. The objective of the ASPIRE project is to increase photo voltaic (PV) generation in Maldives through private-sector investment. Approved in 2020, the ARISE Project scaled up this process.

How has aspire impacted the Maldives economy in 2022?

2022 – ASPIRE has resulted in the mobilization of about $28.3 million for 17.5 MW PV installations. Maldives' dependence on tourism and fossil fuel imports makes its economy particularly vulnerable to external shocks. In 2020, when COVID-19 hit, real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted by at least 34 percent.