Issues
Issue 1 : Manage electricity demand in Malé
With the construction of energy-intensive high-rise buildings and growing ownership of household equipment, the consumption of commercial energy has been growing rapidly. The demand for electricity in Malé has been growing at a rate of 11% per year; this corresponds to a doubling of the consumption every 7 years.
This evolution does not show any sign of slowing down because of the addition of new loads such as air conditioning and office appliances. Considering the lack of space for the construction of new means of power production and the fact that all the primary energy for electricity generation is in the form of fossil fuels, this trend does not appear to be sustainable .
Issue 2 : Sustainable access to energy in outer islands
To satisfy their electricity demand, the outer islands have installed diesel generators that lead to the following situation:
- High dependence on petroleum products.
- Higher energy bills linked with the perspective growth in the consumption.
- Pollution of air and contribution to the greenhouse effect.
The present level of electricity demand in the outer islands is much lower than that observed in Malé. However, one observes a rapid growth in the electricity demand linked with the improved quality of life of the population and the penetration of electrical appliances in these islands.
Issue 3 : To reconcile transport and energy efficiency
In Malé and other islands, lack of public transport facility on land and sea, leading to the proliferation of individual mode of transport has a huge impact on the energy and environment balance and contributes to traffic congestion in small islands. The environmental issues associated with transport should be properly addressed.
A major challenge is to devise innovative approaches for resolving transport problems, for example, the development of a low-cost and environment-friendly transport mode for the islanders. The main goal of this activity is to propose in a very short term, a local strategy toward a sustainable local transport system in Malé and in outer islands.
