Maldives to cut diesel use with PV and batteries

Solar-battery-diesel hybrid systems totalling 2.86 MWp of PV capacity, 3.23 MWh of energy storage and new genset of 6.72 MW have been installed on the Maldives as part of a wider project to transform the atoll nation’s diesel-based mini-grids.

The efforts were directed at 26 islands across Shaviyani and Noonu atolls, which were covered by Phase 3a of the Preparing Outer Islands for Sustainable Energy Development (POISED) project. The POISED project is supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the government of the Maldives, alongside the Asian Development Fund, the Strategic Climate Fund, the Japan Fund for the Joint Crediting Mechanism and the European Investment Bank.

China Machinery Industry International Cooperation Co Ltd, part of China’s Sinomach Group, said it was appointed general contractor for the design, supply, installation and maintenance of a solar PV-diesel hybrid power generation plant for Phase 3a. Specific contracts for the procurement and the design of the hybrid generating systems were awarded to a joint venture between Sinomach International and Sungrow Power Supply Co Ltd (SHE:300274).

Sino Soar Hybrid (Beijing) Technology Co Ltd filled the EPC sub-contractor role, while German firm Dhybrid Power Systems GmbH supplied its energy management systems for 24 islands.

The 26 islands of the Shaviyani and Noonu Atolls previously relied on diesel-based micro-grids, which burdened the Indian Ocean state with costs of importing and transporting diesel.

The POISED project was launched in early 2015 with the goal of bringing solar and battery-based energy systems and efficient diesel generators to 160 inhabited islands of the Maldives. Several sub-projects have so far been completed, while POISED remains listed as active in ADB’s database.

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