1. The Need for an Energy Grid in the Maldives
By:
Dr. Zaid Mohamed
&
Mohamed Latheef
Deputy Managing Director
State Electric Company Limited
Male’
Maldives

2. Maldives
Capital City

3. Male’ International Airport
Greater Male’ Region
Male’ International Airport
Villingili
(inhabited island)
(Developing City)
Hulhumale’
Greater Male’ Region)
Male’ (Capital City)
Thilafushi
(Industrial)

4. Statistics Total Population 298,968 Population in the Capital 102,377
Percentage In the Capital 34%
Number of Islands
Inhabited Islands 185
Number of Atolls 26
Administrative Provinces 7

5. STELCO History
The State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) is an entirely State owned organization responsible for the generation and distribution and sale of electricity to consumers through out the North Central Province (NCP) of the Republic of Maldives.
STELCO was formed back in 1949, as a government department - Electricity Department. The service started with the use of a 14kW generator providing electricity to only 50 consumers of Male’.
Over the 63 years of service, the institution was re-named from Electricity Department to Maldives Electricity Board (MEB) and then on 19 June 1997 the name was changed to State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) as a totally state owned company by a Presidential Decree.
By end of 2008 STELCO expanded services from North to South of the country totaling 28 islands catering 60% of the total population of Maldives.

6. STELCO Today
In 2009 with the new government policies, 7 provinces were formed with utility companies managing all utility services in their own respective provinces. As a result, on 1st May 2009 STELCO handed over 22 island power houses to these utility companies.
STELCO now provide its services to 28 islands in NCP with over consumers and total installed capacity of 78.38MW covering 37% of the population of Maldives.
Diesel power plants are mainly used in STELCO
1 MW of Solar PV installed in Male’ and few other islands under various projects.

7. Male’ Current peak demand in Male’ is 41MW
Total Installed capacity is 61.42MW

8. Male' - Firm Capacity versus Peak Load [MW] - 2006 to 2015

9. Challenges in Expansion & the Need for a Grid
Male’ is congested
Land Availability
No available space in Male’.
Exhaust Emission Limitations
When the current power project is completed power plant emission will reach to maximum acceptable limit
Power System Protection
Will reach maximum allowable production capacity based on system Voltage (appx.55MW)
Network Overloading
Male’ 11kV distribution network requires upgrades and expansion
Power Generation outside capital island Male’??

10. Potential Future Locations
Hulhumale
Land is available
Future load center
Minimal distance (economically more viable)
Thilafushi
Future load center (commercial activities)
Long distance

13. Island Electrification
Average size of each island is small
Population less than 1000 on average
Power demand is low
Cost of operation very high
Revenue is small
Operational loss

14. Regional Interconnection Grids
Improves reliability and system efficiency
Phase 1: Interconnect islands in the same reef
More than 2 islands in the same reef
These power systems can be interconnected
Consider possibility of having larger power plants
Phase 2: Interconnect islands across 2 or more reefs within the atoll.
Phase 3: Interconnect the grids across atolls.

16. Carbon Neutral Maldives
Until 2012, all our energy production is from diesel (MGO)
GoM has announced to be carbon neutral by 2020
GoM is committed to produce energy from renewable sources
Solar and wind seems the most favorable to Maldives

17. Challenges for Renewable Investments
Financial & economic barriers
Initial investment large
Difficulty in getting finance/loans due to high risk of projects
Payback period long
Availability of space for installations
Male’
Small or No roof tops
Cannot get big space in one area
Installations Outside Male’
For islands
Space may be available in some islands but still limited in many islands
Nearby offshore options available
Expansion of RE investments at commercial scale also requires an interconnected grid

22. RE Challenges … Limitations on the level of RE injection Technical
Small & Independent Grids
Limitation on direct feed RE systems
Requires larger grids
Submarine cable
Technical
Uncertainty in technologies
Limited Expertise
Institutional & Regulatory
Need a framework to encourage RE technologies

23. Challenges … Submarine cable very expensive
Male’-Hulhumale’: Estimated US$26.4 million
Male’-Villingilli: Estimated US$10.9 million
Villingilli-Thilafushi: Estimated US$26 million
Source: “Maldives Submarine Cable Interconnection Pre-Feasibility Study” prepared for USAID/SARI-Energy, by SNC Lavalin and PA Government Services, Inc. (April 2010).

24. National & Regional Grid
Currently each island is an independent power grid
National grid will remove this disadvantage
Financial & Technical difficulties due the unique geographic nature of the Maldives
Maldives can take benefit of the energy grid
Eliminates the constraints on power expansions
Help to reduce the price of electricity
Increase stability & efficiency
Land issue will also be solved

25. Interconnection between neighboring countries to Maldives
564 km
728 km

27. 865 km 564 km 728 km 185 Inhabited islands scattered
over a 865 km from North to South
865 km

28. Summary For Male’, demand continues to grow at a very fast rate
Having challenges in power expansion
Further challenges in RE investments
Power expansion limited by the need for a Grid
Constraints on Grid interconnections due to financial and economic issues
A regional grid will give a lot of advantage for the case of Maldives

29. Thank You