Maldives’ Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Technology has floated a tender for the engineering, procurement, construction of a 40 MW/40 MWh battery energy storage systems (BESS) across 11 select islands. The BESS are set to improve renewable energy penetration for island grids and ensure efficient operation of generators in the solar-diesel hybrid generation mix. The installations covered in this tender will be supported by a $23 million concessional loan to the Government of Maldives, allocated from the Clean Technology Fund. The deadline for submission of bids is August 26, 2021.
The bids have been invited under two lots. Under Lot-I, bids have been invited to supply, install, and commission 24 MW/24 MWh BESS on locations at S. Hithadhoo, S. Hulhudhoo-Meedhoo, Gn. Fuvahmulah, Thinadhoo, Kulhudhuffushi, Eydhafushi, and Lh. Hinnavaru islands. Under Lot-II, bids have been invited to supply, install, and commission 16 MW/16 MWh BESS on locations at L. Atoll, Lh. Naifaru, Dh. Kudahuvadhoo, GA. Villingili, and Sh. Funadhoo islands.
Maldives’s installed solar capacity stands at 21.52 MW as of 2019 from 1.64 MW in 2009. However, the energy from renewables accounts for only 4 per cent of the national energy mix. In December 2020, the World Bank approved a $107.4 million project to help the Maldives accelerate its transition to renewable energy. The project is expected to bring in 36 MW of new solar installations and an estimated cumulative capacity of 50 MWh of BESS and grid infrastructure upgrades.