Minister of Environment and Energy Thoriq Ibrahim has stated that the biggest challenge in enhancing the renewable energy usage is insufficient data of solar resources. Environment Minister Thoriq Ibrahim made the remarks while addressing the function held to launch the Solar Resource Overview of Maldives 2017. The Environment Minister stated that collection of such data will benefit the foreign investors seeking to conduct renewable energy projects in Maldives. Minister Thoriq Ibrahim added that he believes that publishing data is crucial to increase renewable energy usage.
Solar Resource Overview of Maldives 2017 contains data comprised of ground measurements from 1999 to 2016. The book contains information about the available renewable energy resources in Maldives and solar energy usage. The first of its kind, the book is prepared under the project, Renewable Energy Resource Mapping for Maldives by World Bank, Energy Sector Management Assistant Programme (ESMAP) and Asia Sustainable and Alternative Energy Programme (ASTAE).
The Maldives declared a policy commitment in 2009 to become the world's first carbon neutral country by 2020. The most important action to achieve this objective is displacing its near total dependence on diesel-based power generation with renewable energy alternatives.