An agreement has been signed to install solar-diesel hybrid electricity systems in 30 islands in four central atolls under the Preparing Outer Islands for Sustainable Energy Development (POISED) project.

The Environment Ministry signed the agreement with a Chinese company yesterday, The install solar hybrid systems will be installed in the islands of Kaafu, Alif Alif, Alif Dhaal and Vaavu atoll.

However, the Environment Ministry did not disclose the name of the Chinese company or the value of the project.

At the signing ceremony, Environment Minister Thoriq Ibrahim said the project will develop the electricity generation facilities in these islands and install energy management systems to enable them to be operated and maintained using modern technology. The project will save MVR 33 million annually, he said.

“In terms of money, MVR 33 million per year will be saved from the cost of fuel and 6,500 tonnes of carbondioxide equivalent will be reduced,” he said.

The hybrid systems will be used in all the islands within one and a half years of the project's implementation, the ministry said. These hybrid systems will save up to 2.4 million liters of diesel per year.

Thoriq said the project will reduce dependence on oil and increase the reliability of electricity supply using renewable energy. The program will provide 5.88 MW of solar power and 4.45 MW of battery energy storage, he said.

The government aims to convert 33 percent of the country’s electricity generation to renewable energy by 2028, he said, adding that several projects have been launched to increase electricity generation using available renewable energy resources.

According to the ministry, the government's objective is to replace the old diesel-only power plants with solar-diesel-battery hybrid systems.

The government has also started work to identify and test additional renewable energy resources available in Maldives and add such resources to these systems, the ministry said.