The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Environment Ministry of the Maldives have launched a plan to roll out solar–battery–diesel hybrids across 48 islands, meant to curb reliance on expensive and polluting diesel mini-grids.
The project has now overseen the deployment of around 7.5MW of solar PV facilities, 5.6MWh of battery energy storage systems and 11.6MW of energy-efficient diesel gensets.
The projects come under the flagship Preparing Outer Islands for Sustainable Energy Development (POISED) Project, the purpose of which is to transform existing diesel-based energy mini-grids into hybrid renewable energy systems. Its target is 160 inhabited islands through investment in a total of 21MW of solar power plants as well as battery energy storage systems, energy management systems, and efficient diesel generators, while starting to focus on distribution grid upgrades to allow future renewable energy penetration.
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