2015-08-31-IRENA-Renewable_Energy_Roadmap_for_The_Republic_of_Maldives_16页_3mb

Renewable Energy Roadmap Summary for the Republic of Maldives

The Republic of Maldives aims to transition to a sustainable energy future, leveraging its renewable resources to reduce dependence on imported fuel and lower electricity costs. However, challenges including high investment costs and policy barriers have hindered progress.

Key Findings

• Opportunity: Maldives has significant renewable energy potential (solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, marine). Proper development could decrease fuel imports and lower electricity expenses.
• Challenge: Current renewable projects fall short of the country's full potential.

Technology Solutions

• Interconnection: Islands should be interconnected using undersea cables to connect renewable energy supply regions with demand centers like Malé.
• Land Constraints: Address land limitations through rooftop, floating (e.g., Swimsol), and wind turbine PV installations, or high-efficiency PV modules and solar trackers.
• Heating/Cooling: Adopt solar water heating, seawater air conditioning (SWAC), and solar air conditioning (SAC) to reduce electricity demand.
• High Shares: Deploy battery storage (including innovative options like ice storage) and other supporting technologies (flexible generators, forecasting, demand-side management) to manage variable renewables.

Policy Solutions

• Set Ambitious Targets: Establish legally-binding, achievable targets based on detailed analysis, potentially starting with a "30% day peak load" goal but learning from higher-penetration examples.
• Encourage Private Sector: Use feed-in-tariffs (FITs), net metering, third-party ownership, and leasing policies, ensuring they are transparent, non-retroactive, and maintain a fair playing field.
• Boost Resort Sector: Promote renewables among resorts (currently responsible for ~100MW load) via forums, competitions, and tailored policy measures.
• Improve Data Management: Collect and disseminate regular, high-quality energy data (resource assessments, energy balances, performance metrics, demand forecasts) for informed planning and investment decisions.

Workshop Recommendations

• Develop a clear, transparent national renewable energy policy framework, regularly reviewed.
• Establish regular energy sector dialogue (stakeholder meetings, data brokers).
• Review procurement procedures to directly engage Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and ensure Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) are cost-effective.
• Draft a new electricity law to empower the Ministry of Environment and Energy and address the evolving renewable energy landscape.
• Explore diverting funds from fossil fuel subsidies (cost-ineffective and environmentally damaging) towards renewables and energy efficiency.
• Conduct studies on net metering regulations, feed-in tariffs, and subsidy reform to maximize cost savings and security.

Utility-scale pivated solar farms are small fraction of grid generating capacity (less than 5% in some cases). Large-scale renewable deployment requires qualified personnel and skilled technicians.

The report, produced by IRENA at the request of the Maldives Ministry of Environment and Energy, is subject to copyright.