- Maldives has launched a tender for 12.5 MW grid-tied solar PV capacity for select islands
- Interested bidders will be expected to deploy, operate and maintain this capacity as well as finance it
- The project is part of the ASSURE program for which the ADB has committed up to $50.5 million as loan and grants
The Ministry of Finance in the Maldives has opened a competitive solicitation process for the Maldives Solar Power Project (SPP), backed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The latter claims that the 12.5 MW facility will be the country’s largest private sector led project in the energy sector in terms of capacity and investments.
This grid-tied capacity is planned to be installed in select islands of the country on a design, build, finance, own, operate, maintain and transfer basis.
The call is open to both national and international bidders to participate in this auction round that complements the Accelerating Sustainable System Development Using Renewable Energy (ASSURE) project.
Under the ASSURE project, the bank has committed loan and grant agreements of up to $50.5 million to expand renewable energy generation and distribution in the island nation. It aims to specifically install grid-scale energy storage, energy management systems and distribution grid upgrades in 20 outer islands. Emerging technologies such as offshore floating solar are also part of the plan.
Interested bidders will need to register with the ministry by July 2, 2024. They will then need to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to obtain access to the online data room (ODR) to access bidding documents.
Launched on March 5, 2024, the tender will be open for submissions till July 4, 2024. A pre-bid meeting will be held on March 27, 2024, according to the call issued.
In May 2023, the ministry launched a call for 20 MW grid-connected solar PV capacity under the ASSURE program, calling it the world’s 1st multisite land, rooftop, and seawater floating solar independent power producer project (see Maldives Tender For 20 MW Solar).
