Solar panel installation begins near Sinamale' bridge

Jun 4, 2023, 7:40 AM
The environment ministry expects installation work to be completed by the end of June - Photo: Abdulla Iyan/Adhadhu

The environment ministry expects installation work to be completed by the end of June - Photo: Abdulla Iyan/Adhadhu

The installation of solar panels under a renewable energy project began on Sunday at the Male'-Hulhumale' highway.

Ifad Waheed, the project's communication specialist, told Adhadhu that the installation work is expected to be completed by the start of July.

The solar panel installation began at the island area in the middle of the highway. Panel installation at the seaward side of the highway will begin afterwards, Ifad said.

"At the rate the project is going, work is expected to be completed in the estimated period," he said.

Electricity generated from the project is to be sold to the State Electricity Company (STELCO) at the rate of 10.09 USD cents or MVR 1.68 per unit.

Electricity generated from the 1.5 megawatt solar PV system established under the first phase of the ASPIRE project at the 1000 housing units in Hulhumale' is being sold to STELCO at 21 USD cents.

The 7.3 million units of electricity to be generated from the project annually would reduce the state's expenditure on fuel by about MVR 15 million or MVR 20 million a year.

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