Backed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Maldives' Ministry of Finance is seeking bidders for 20 MW grid connected solar PV capacity under a tender that's touted by the bank as the world's 1st multisite land, rooftop and seawater floating solar independent power producer (IPP) project.
This capacity needs to be installed in 20 inhabited islands of the island nation under public-private partnership model. ADB says this is the largest renewable energy tender launched by the country in terms of capacity and investments.
Part of the country's Outer Islands Solar Public Private Partnership (PPP) project, the tender expects the selected bidder to design, build, finance, own, operate, maintain and transfer the capacity in selected islands.
The invitation for bids (IFB) round follows market sounding process the country announced in October 2022 through the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology (MOE) (see Maldives Planning 20 MW Solar With ADB Support).
A pre-bid meeting will be held on June 1, 2023 and the last date for bid submission is August 14, 2023, according to the tender launched on May 11, 2023.
The Finance Ministry says with ADB support it will back capital intense investments in battery energy storage, grid upgrades and energy management systems under the Accelerating Sustainable System Development Using Renewable Energy (ASSURE) Project with an aim to support renewable energy investments. The tender for 20 MW is to complement the ASSURE project.