Maldives has issued a tender inviting interested bidders to participate in the pre-qualification process for installing 21 MW of grid-tied solar systems in six major islands.

These islands are Addu City, Fuvahmulah City, Kulhudhuffushi City, GDh. Thinadhooo, B.Evdhafushi, and Lh.Hinnavaru.

This subproject is rolled out with financial and technical support from World Bank’s Accelerating Renewable Energy Integration and Sustainable Energy (ARISE) project in the Maldives. The last date for the submission of bids is March 12, 2020.

The project consists of two parts.

The first is for the installation of a 10 MW floating solar system in Addu city, while the second part involves the installation of 11 MW of land-based solar in Addu City, Fuvahmulah City, Kulhudhuffushi City, GDh. Thinadhooo, B.Evdhafushi, and Lh.Hinnavaru.

The selected bidder would be required to sign a power purchase agreement (PPA) for 15-20 years. To participate in the pre-qualification process, interested applicants should register with the country’s Ministry of Finance between January 30, 2020, and March 12, 2020. For registration, applicants are required to pay a non-refundable registration fee of MVR 1,500 (~$100).

A senior official from the Ministry of Environment, Maldives, said, “Diesel remains the predominant resource for electricity in the Maldives so far, with 95% of the generation mix accounting for diesel. However, to diversify the energy mix and have secure, affordable electricity, the country is working to increase its renewable energy share and thus decarbonize its power sector. The country has streamlined energy action plans and is to increase the renewable energy fraction by 20% compared to 2018 levels, by the year 2023.”

Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the environment ministry of Maldives have started to implement solar battery-diesel hybrid systems in 48 islands out of the 160 inhabited islands of the atoll nation.

Previously, Mercom reported that India had announced the provision of financial assistance up to $ 1.4 billion in the form of budgetary support, currency swap, and concessional lines of credit to fulfill the socio-economic development programs in the Maldives. India and Maldives have said they will cooperate closely for the growth of the renewable energy sector.

Image credit: EDF Renewables